Update from the Danbury Police Department regarding 10 Whaley Street Deaths

We can now confirm the identities of the deceased as Sonia Loja, 36, Junior Panjon, 12, Joselyn Panjon, 10, and Jonael Panjon, 5. Ms. Loja is the mother of the three children, and they all resided at 10 Whaley Street. The children all appear to have died by strangulation, and the mother’s suspected cause of death is asphyxia by hanging.

Pending an official autopsy, preliminary findings indicate that Ms. Loja strangled her three children before killing herself. However, this is still an active investigation.
 
Investigators had learned that the mother and children lived at the residence with two other adults, who were not present when the police arrived. They and other extended family members have been contacted and advised of the incident.
 
The Mayor’s Office and the City’s Police, Fire, Health, Education, Emergency Management, and Health Departments, along with Nuvance Health have coordinated efforts to provide services to the family and friends of the deceased. As this is also an emotionally damaging incident for first responders, services have been extended to public safety personnel who responded to the scene.
An autopsy of the deceased is scheduled for this morning at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Farmington, CT.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the victims. Mayor Dean Esposito, who responded to the scene to offer support, states, “A truly horrible event occurred in our city yesterday and we mourn the tragic loss of life. In the coming days, mental health and counseling services will be provided through collaboration with the Danbury Public Schools and the City of Danbury. Our community grieves for the innocent lives taken from us. We will get through this together”.
 
 
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Submitted by Danbury, CT

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