Three found dead in Stittsville, Ont., home; police say deaths 'suspicious'

STITTSVILLE, Ont. - Grief counsellors have been called to a suburban Ottawa elementary school after two children and an adult were found dead in a nearby home.

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board says parent volunteers and extra supply teachers will also be on hand today at Stittsville Public School.

Police continue to investigate the deaths of three people found in a two-storey detached house late Monday afternoon.

Investigators have not released any information about the victims, except to say the deaths are being treated as suspicious.

But fire officials have described them as two children and one adult and neighbours have identified the three as a mother, her 10-year-old son and six-year-old daughter.

Tonya Marczak says her daughter was a good friend of the little girl, who she said loved to play dress-up.

"You couldn't not see her in a dress-up dress when she came over to play, she was always dressing up," Marczak said.

The children attended Stittsville Public School, she said, adding the little girl was in junior kindergarten.

Marczak said the woman, a stay-at home mom, was part of the neighbourhood watch. She described her as "very quiet."

Fire officials say firefighters who arrived at the scene were "visibly distraught by what they had witnessed."

(The Canadian Press, CFRA)