A Pennsylvania father who investigators say threw his two young children from a five-story parking garage before jumping to his death was remembered by his wife as a “wonderful dad.”
Patrick Lynch, 42, was found dead Tuesday afternoon at the base of a parking garage in the Pittsburgh suburb of Mt. Lebanon, alongside his eight-year-old son, James, and six-year-old daughter, Caroline. Authorities believe the deaths were the result of a double murder-suicide.
Hours after the tragedy, Lynch’s wife, Anna DeMase Lynch, described him in a since-deleted Facebook post as a devoted father who had struggled with depression after losing his job as a data scientist.
“My husband made the irreversible decision to kill our two children and himself this evening,” the grieving mother wrote, according to a screenshot cited by The Daily Voice.
“Before the media jumps to conclusions, he was a wonderful dad,” she continued. “Please check in on your loved ones. I never thought this is how our story would end.”
Lynch had been laid off by technology company Slice in August after nearly five years with the firm, where he worked as a scientist specializing in machine learning and artificial intelligence, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Anna said she had finally persuaded her husband to begin therapy. His first appointment was scheduled for Wednesday, one day after the deaths.
“One day too late,” she wrote, according to the outlet.
Patrick Lynch, of Pennsylvania, who investigators say threw his two young children from a five-story parking garage before jumping to his death, was described by his wife Anna as a “wonderful dad” (family pictured)
Patrick, 42, was found dead alongside his eight-year-old son James and six-year-old daughter Caroline (all pictured) at the base of a parking garage in the Pittsburgh suburb of Mt. Lebanon on Tuesday afternoon
In a Facebook post later deleted, Anna described Patrick (pictured) as a devoted father who had become depressed after losing his job as a data scientist
“Rest in peace my angels,” Anna wrote in a final tribute to her children. “James may you ski all the bowls and Caroline may you eat all the Skittles and play in your own castle made of slime. Best friends forever.”
Police received a report shortly after 4.15pm on November 3 of three people lying unresponsive in the roadway, according to the Allegheny County Police Department.
A witness who spoke with the woman who called police told KDKA News that she was the first person at the scene. “She said she was the first on the scene and saw what she saw. It’s nothing—man, you could see a horror movie, you know?”
“Doesn’t match this at all,” the witness added. “I mean, this is real, real sad.”
Officers went to the area behind a parking garage in the 700 block of Washington Road, in the affluent Mt. Lebanon suburb, where they found Patrick and his two children.
Additional deputies from several departments, along with firefighters and paramedics, soon arrived. First responders attempted to save the family, but all three were pronounced dead at the scene.
A medical examiner initially attributed the deaths to an “apparent fall.”
James was pronounced dead at 4.35pm, one minute before his younger sister, Caroline. She had been born with the rare genetic condition Williams syndrome.
Anna (pictured) said she had persuaded Patrick to seek therapy, with his first appointment scheduled for Wednesday, one day after the deaths
Police found Patrick and his two children behind a parking garage (pictured) in the 700 block of Washington Road shortly after 4.15pm on November 3
The three victims were initially listed as having died in an “apparent fall.” James was pronounced dead at 4.35pm, one minute before his sister (both pictured)
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A witness told KDKA News that the woman who called police was the first person at the scene: “It’s nothing—man, you could see a horror movie, you know?”
Later that night, investigators said they were treating the deaths as a suspected double murder-suicide. They believe Patrick pushed his children from the garage before jumping himself.
“At this time we are treating this incident not as an accident,” Mt. Lebanon Police Chief Jason Haberman said during a press conference streamed by WTAE News.
The following afternoon, the medical examiner’s office said both children had died from “multiple blunt force injuries” and ruled their deaths homicides.
Officials confirmed Thursday that Patrick also died from blunt force injuries, but determined that his death was a suicide, according to CBS News.
“There will be a significant amount of trauma associated with this event for the community,” Haberman said.
“Everybody in the Mt. Lebanon community will know somebody involved in this incident,” he added. “We really want to send our condolences.”
By Wednesday morning, a memorial had begun growing at the scene. Mourners left flowers and stuffed animals in remembrance of James and Caroline Lynch.
“I came here because I wanted to honor her, and she was really nice,” 10-year-old Marlow Manion, who attended school with Caroline, told CBS. “She came to my house one time, and I just wanted to honor her.”
Patrick was laid off by technology company Slice in August after almost five years with the firm, where he worked in machine learning and artificial intelligence, according to his LinkedIn profile
Public records indicate that the Lynch family lived in a nearly $1 million, 4,300-square-foot home in the neighborhood before the tragedy (pictured: Anna and Caroline)
A memorial for James and Caroline Lynch grew at the scene Wednesday as mourners left flowers and stuffed animals
Caroline was born with the rare genetic condition Williams syndrome
Before the tragedy, the Lynch family lived in a nearly $1 million, 4,300-square-foot home in the area, according to public records.
Gina Pugliano, a friend of Anna’s and fellow mother, created a GoFundMe page to help pay funeral expenses for Anna’s children and husband. She described Anna as someone who had “devoted her life to her family and community.”
“To know her is to love her. And last night, these two beautiful, perfect children lost their lives in the most unimaginable way,” Pugliano wrote.
“No mother should ever have to experience this kind of pain,” she added. “Nothing I write here will bring her babies back and give her any sense of justice or peace.”
“I set this up because that’s what we do, as mothers. We take care of each other and we fight like mothers. You are going to have to fight, Anna. You have so many mothers fighting for you.”
By early Saturday morning, the fundraiser had collected nearly $218,000 toward its $250,000 target.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
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