Fla. Dad Killed 5-Year-Old Son, Himself Before Mom Could Pick Child Up for Thanksgiving Weekend

Police are investigating the deaths of a Florida man and his son, whose bodies were found by the boy’s mother over Thanksgiving weekend.

Terry Bivens, Jr., 44, and his 5-year-old son Jackson Bivens died in what authorities believe was a murder-suicide in a Lutz, Fla., home, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. 

The sheriff’s office confirmed the identities of the deceased to PEOPLE.

The investigation began on Friday, Nov. 29, when Jackson’s mother called the sheriff’s office, claiming she was not able to reach Terry and Jackson, per the statement. 

The woman, who police say was separated from Terry, called authorities around 7:30 a.m. on Friday and said: “I’m here to pick up my son, but no one’s answering the door, and he’s not answering the phone,” Hillsborough County Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer said at a press briefing. 

Deputies conducting a wellness check found the door to the residence locked, and Terry’s vehicle in the driveway, Maurer said. 

They didn’t notice any “nefarious activity” or “signs of foul play,” Maurer said, on their first visit around 7:53 a.m. that morning. 

Later in the morning, at around 9:30 a.m., the worried mother managed to go into the residence, where she found the father and son deceased, per Maurer.

Both died from gunshot wounds, the sheriff’s office said in its statement.  

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Police have not discussed when they believe the murder-suicide took place. When asked whether the killing was related to any possible custody issue, the sheriff’s office declined to comment, citing the pending investigation.

Police did not find any suicide notes during their initial search of the residence, Maurer said at the briefing.