Investigators have determined that the three bodies found inside a burned out Chula Vista home were the result of a murder-suicide.
Thomas Fuchs, 49, and his sons Sean, 15 and Kyle, 13 were found dead inside a home on Bonita Verde Drive after a house fire report was called in around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.
While extinguishing the flames, firefighters realized the victims appeared to have died from suspicious causes, investigators said.
Chula Vista police said Thomas Fuchs was found in the hallway with a pistol by his side. The boys were found shot in their bedrooms.
Investigators said Fuchs left multiple suicide notes and photo albums inside his minivan which was parked outside the home.
Neighbor Pat Valdivia said Fuchs and his two sons were the type of family to play in the street or in the yard. In fact, Valdivia said he spotted the three of them playing basketball Monday afternoon.
"The ultimate dad and his two sons," he said.
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Investigators say Fuchs used some type of flammable fluid to start fires in different parts of the home. Flames destroyed half of the home but the other half remained in tact with some smoke damage police said.
Early Tuesday evening, about 150 neighbors, friends and classmates held a candle light vigil at the home.
According to one neighbor Fuchs, a life coach and attorney, was struggling financially. Real estate records show that his home was in the process of being foreclosed.
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