Victims of apparent murder-suicide ID'd

The Fredericton Police have identified the victims of an apparent murder-suicide that occurred early Tuesday morning on the city's north side, in the First Nations community of St. Mary's.

The victims are Rowena Sharpe, 38, andher husband Kevin Glenn Sharpe, 45, police said during a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

Three of the couple's four children were in the Paul Street home at the time two boys, aged five and 13, and a 14-year-old girl.They fled to the neighbours.

The couple had recently split up andKevin Sharpe had moved out, according to the police.

However, police won't say if he forced entry into the home.

The cause of the deaths has not been released and police won't confirm if a weapon was involved.

Police have not formally called the case a murder-suicide and won't say if there had been previous calls about domestic violence at the house. No one has been arrested.

The three children who were in the home at the time are "physically fine," said Const. Rick Mooney.

"Our concern obviously is their emotional well-being and we have put resources and proper procedures in place to ensure that both their physical and emotional well-being is looked after," he said.

Policewere calledtothe home on Paul Street about a domestic violence situation at 4 a.m., Fredericton Police Sgt. Tim Durling hadsaid in an earlierstatement.

Troubled relationship

Neighbours told CBC News that Rowena Sharpegrew up in the community and worked at the daycare.

Starla Paul, who delivers newspapers on Paul Street, said it's well known in the neighbourhood there were problems in the home.

"Every day you just heard yelling. He screamed a lot," she said. "He was always yelling at her children, always abusing her. People always knew abuse was going on with them.

"Sharpie is known around the reserve to be kind of crazy," said Paul. "Like, if you know Sharpie, you've had a problem with him. He likes to voice his opinion. He's very loud, very abusive. He likes to just down people.

"(Rowena's) a really good mother and she stayed with him cause he loved his children, but I think she finally got to the point where it was time for her to let go," said Paul.

"She kicked him out and there was a full week that he was gone. And then this happened today."

Paul said Rowena will be missed. "She was a really nice personLike all the kids loved her on our reserve. She was very well-liked and loved."

A block of Paul Street remains cordoned off. FrederictonPolice have set up a command postaround the sceneand there are a number of emergency vehicles in the area.

The criminal investigation division and forensic identification section are on the scene.