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Press release from the Osage County Sheriff's Office
(Also available at
www.osageco.org)
January 14th, 2009 1300hrs
On the morning of January 12, 2009 Amy Shirley received a telephone
call from the school her three children attended, stating the children
were not in school. Mrs. Shirley did not receive a response via
telephone and went to her residence at 212 S. Lawrence in Scranton
with a neighbor. Mrs. Shirley and the neighbor discovered that her
house had been burnt and there were bodies in the residence.
Scranton Police Department along with Osage County Sheriff, Kansas
State Fire Marshall and the Shawnee County Coroners office began
an investigation.
The investigation has determined that Ethan C Shirley, 14 years
of age, Ashten C Shirley, 11 years of age and Caleb Jackson Shirley,
9 years of age of the residence were all victims of a homicide.
Their father Michael L Shirley, 52 of the residence attempted to
take his own life, but it was determined that he died as a result
of the fire. His cause of death has been determined to be the results
of a suicide.
It has been determined by our investigation that Michael Shirley
killed his three children and then set the house on fire. The fire
put itself out shortly after ignition. The children did not die
from the fire nor gunshot injuries.
This case will continue to be an on going investigation between
all agencies. Osage County Attorney Brandon Jones has been continually
briefed and informed during this investigation and states there
will be no charges at this time. After all reports are completed
they will be reviewed by the Osage County Attorney’s Office.
Numerous lab reports are still pending in the investigation, which
could take several months. |
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