May 11, 2008, 7:07AM
Family of five found dead
Financial problems may have driven man to shoot his wife, 3 kids, himself


By JENNIFER LEAHY
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

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An immigrant in dire financial straits apparently killed his wife and three young children before turning a rifle on himself at the family's run-down house in northeast Houston, authorities and neighbors said Saturday.

Police found the five bodies Saturday afternoon at 10125 Stonewood in the North Forest area, but neighbors reported hearing the gunshots that may have killed the family early Friday morning.

After forcing open a gate to the overgrown property about 3:25 p.m., police discovered the man's body with a rifle nearby on the front porch of the wood house that he built with his own hands four or five years ago.

Bodies of two young children were found slumped on a mattress inside. The mom and older son were lying dead on the floor, police said.

Their names and other details were not available Saturday, as police continued to investigate.

Shocked neighbors said the family included two boys — 6 and 7 years old who loved to play cowboy — and a 3-year-old girl, who adored all things pink.

Neighbors said the father, who was from El Salvador, was known as Salvador. The mother, from Mexico, was named Lupe. The couple, they said, was devoted to their children.

"They both loved their kids so much. They didn't even give them candy. They gave them apples instead," neighbor and close friend Sallie Potts said.

The Pottses looked out for the family, who didn't have any relatives in the country.

"We had them over for Thanksgiving, and every other time we had get-togethers," she said. "We had become family."

Potts' 6-year-old grandson played with the oldest boy, who she said was a 7-year-old named Jade. They loved to wear cowboy boots and hats, and like all older brothers, the boys loved to pick on their little sister, she said.

"He could have brought the kids to me. I would have taken them in a heartbeat," Potts said, shaking her head, her eyes tearing. "He didn't have to hurt the kids."

Neighbors said they would have helped the family with food or money — like they had in the past.

The family initially lived in a tent on the property while the father built the house himself several years ago. Neighbors said they let them use their electricity until the residence was complete.

But friends said it was always a struggle for the family. Salvador worked odd jobs while Lupe took care of the children, neighbor Janice Bethea said.

"It's just so sad," she said. "I can't imagine how anyone could hurt their own children."

When he wasn't working, Salvador could be seen taking his two sons on rides on the family's Shetland ponies. They had other livestock, including a donkey and bull, on the property, police said.

"They were little cowboys, and they called me the silver cowboy," said Richard Hare, an elderly neighbor.

Hare said he asked Salvador if he needed any food when he saw him Thursday.

"He said no," Hare said. "But now that I think back, he seemed to stop for a minute and he probably did need it. He was probably out of food, out of gas and out of money."

Foreclosure notices were seen posted on some parcels of land in the neighborhood Saturday, but it wasn't clear whether the family's property was among those auctioned last week.

Sgt. John Chomiak said the family was last seen Thursday.

Police had been to the address "a couple of times on reports of problems with livestock," Chomiak said.

They removed the livestock from the property Saturday.

jennifer.leahy@chron.com



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