Ariz. Father and His 2 Children Dead in Apparent Murder-Suicide, Police Say

The father's estranged wife called the police to do a welfare check at his home after being notified that their children had an excused absence from school

A father and his two children are dead after an apparent murder-suicide, police in Surprise, Ariz. announced on Tuesday, May 21. Brock Mater, 34, and his 7-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter were found dead after police conducted a welfare check at his home at the request of Mater's estranged wife on Monday, May 20. According to an incident debrief from the Surprise Police Department, Mater's estranged wife became concerned after the kids' school called to report an unexcused absence following their visit with him over the weekend.

She informed officers that she could not reach Mater over the phone and was met with no response after knocking at the front door of his residence "multiple times."