Wife of Welsh dad 'shoots their two children dead before taking her own life'

1 hour ago 2
Chattythat Icon

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office A cream Florida home, with a number of palm trees in the foreground. There is yellow police tape wrapped around the trees. In the garden in front of the house there are a range of bushes, and a patio car parking space.Manatee County Sheriff’s Office

Richard James, originally from Wales, lived with wife Monika Rubacha, and their children Josh, 14, and Emma, 11, in Lakewood Ranch, Florida

The wife of a man from Wales shot dead their two children before taking her own life, according to police in the United States.

The bodies of Monika Rubacha, 44, 14-year-old Josh James and 11-year-old Emma James were found at their home in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, last month.

Officers from the Manatee County Sheriff's Office made the discovery after Richard James, originally from Wales, became concerned. He was away working in South America at the time.

He is understood to be the brother of the Welsh radio DJ and Sky Sports darts reporter Polly James, from Cardiff.

A police spokesperson said: "Based on the investigation, detectives determined that the two juvenile victims were killed by their mother in separate rooms of the home before she took her own life.

"At this time, there is no evidence to indicate that any other individuals were involved."

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office A grey/cream Florida home, with a palm tree in the foreground. There is yellow police tape wrapped around the tree. It's a close up picture of the house, showing two front facing windows, with a series of plants running around the front of the house.Manatee County Sheriff’s Office

The bodies of the mother and children were discovered on 26 February

James and his family lived on the west coast of Florida, about 50 miles (80km) south of Tampa.

Following the discovery on 26 February, Randy Warren, from the sheriff's office, told a press conference: "This is a horrible, horrible thing for the deputy staff to witness and even worse for this father and the husband, who was on his way back from South America."

Warren said there was "nothing" that would have "indicated this would have happened".

Read Entire Article