Law enforcement officers responding to a welfare check discovered the bodies of five individuals in an Ohio residence at around 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. The incident occurred in Lake Township and was reported by Uniontown police. The victims have been identified as Jason Dunham, 46, Melissa Dunham, 42, and their three children: Renee, 15, Amber, 12, and Evan, 9.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the deaths are the result of a domestic dispute that took a deadly turn. However, the exact circumstances leading to the tragic outcome and the individual responsible for the gunshots have not been confirmed.Authorities have provided limited information, citing an ongoing investigation as the reason for the lack of details. The motivation behind the welfare check request and the identity of the person who initiated it have not been disclosed.
The Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) was present at the scene to assist in collecting and documenting evidence. The BCI spokesperson deferred all inquiries to the Uniontown police, who have jurisdiction over the Lake Township area.
According to a neighbor, Edmond Gadzacko, who resided adjacent to the Dunham family, there were no apparent conflicts between the families. The Dunham children were known to interact with Gadzacko’s grandchildren during visits.
The Lake Local School District, where the children attended school, activated a crisis response plan and made counseling services available to students and staff. Superintendent Kevin Tobin acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and emphasized the district’s commitment to providing support to the school community.
