Family of 5 found dead in Lake Minnetonka murder-suicide

GREENWOOD, Minn. (KMSP) - Five family members, including 3 children, were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide Thursday at a home on Channel Drive in Greenwood, Minn., on the shores of Lake Minnetonka.  According to South Lake Minnetonka police, the family was discovered on a welfare check after a coworker and the children's school reported them missing. The children had not been to school in 2 days. 

"There's no words to describe it, and I've been a cop for 32 years," South Lake Minnetonka Police Chief Mike Siitari said. "This is a tough one to handle."

Officials have made clear that there is no threat to the public. Police are categorizing this as a murder-suicide due to what was found in the residence.

The Greenwood home was owned by AllNurses.com founder Brian Short. The company confirmed the loss of the family members in a statement Thursday:

It is with great regret and a very heavy heart that I have to share some very sad news with you. There is no easy way to say this. We just found out this afternoon that Brian and his family have passed away. The news is calling it an apparent murder-suicide, but this has not been verified by the authorities and details have not yet been released.

No matter what the details are, the results are still the same…..a very tragic loss for the extended families, friends, co-workers, and this nursing community.

Please use this thread to post your comments of condolence and gratitude for Brian who created this wonderful nursing community that has benefitted so many.

Out of respect for Brian and his extended family with which these comments will be shared, keep your comment positive and uplifting. All inappropriate comments will be moved.

The Short family moved into their Greenwood home about 4 years ago, and the victims are well known to everyone in the neighborhood, making a difficult situation even more painful. Minnetonka High School will have walk-in grief counseling and small group counseling available for students struggling with the loss of 3 classmates.

Investigators will remain at the home on Friday to process evidence, and we could learn more about what led up to the deaths.