Naharnet

Early Probe: Fort Hood Lebanese Man Killed Daughters then Committed Suicide

U.S. army investigators have said they suspect murder-suicide in the Tuesday deaths of a 43-year-old Lebanese man and his two daughters at Fort Hood, Texas.

Rouhad Ezzeddine and his two daughters, 9-year-old Leila and 4-year-old Zeinab, lived in the home assigned to the children's mother, 33-year-old Private 1st Class Carla Santisteban.

The soldier had recently returned from deployment to Afghanistan.

Early indications are Ezzeddine killed his daughters and then took his own life, investigators said.

Leila and Zeinab will be buried in their mother's hometown in Peru while the father will be buried in the Lebanese town of Kafra.

"This is a terrible tragedy for the mother and families of these children,” said Maj. Gen. Anthony Ierardi, Fort Hood senior commander and commanding general 1st Cavalry Division. “We are doing everything possible to care for the family in this time of profound grief and loss."

It could be a while before the army releases its final results. It said it will not do so until investigators have conducted a “very thorough and complete investigation,” examining all physical evidence and testimony, and exhausting all possible leads.

Al-Jadeed TV said the Ezzeddine family has expressed reservations on the initial results of the probe.


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