BALLARD, W.Va. — The parents of two girls found dead Saturday in a Monroe County creek were found dead by police in a remote area near Ballard Sunday afternoon.
State Police First Sgt. Andy Evans told MetroNews the bodies of Keven Anderson, 40, and Helen Rattamasribounreuang, 30, both of Ballard, were found side by side in a wooded area near a large field off Crawford Road at around 4 p.m. The deaths, an apparent murder-suicide, brought to an end a 24-hour search for the unmarried couple.
Evans said the investigation began Saturday morning with a suspicious fire at the family’s home. At around 2 p.m. Saturday, a pair of fishermen on Indian Creek spotted the body of the couple’s 11-month-old daughter. Sgt. Evans said DNR police floated the creek and later found the body of the couple’s 7-year-old daughter. Evans said both girls were homicide victims. Police then began looking for Anderson and Rattamasribounreuang as persons of interest.
Troopers and other law enforcement found the couple’s vehicle late Saturday night. A more intense search Sunday on family property resulted in the discovery of the two bodies in a remote area, Evans said.
“We have reason to believe they died in the early morning hours (Sunday),” Evans said.
Evans said family members have a lot of unanswered questions.
“It’s something that we may never able to answer,” he said. “No one expected a situation like this.”
Evans said as many as 30 law enforcement officers took part in the investigation and search including troopers, deputies from Monroe and Greenbrier counties and DNR police. He said another 20 volunteer firefighters assisted.
Members of the state police crime scene unit were still on the scene Sunday evening.