ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — St. Louis County police are investigating after a young girl and her 28-year-old mother were found dead inside a north St. Louis County home Christmas night.
The St. Louis County Police Department said officers were called to the home on the 1500 block of Lakeside Lane in Spanish Lake for a welfare check at around 7 p.m. When they got inside, they found the woman and child dead.
Police identified the victims as 28-year-old Charese Garvin and 23-month-old Alayah Butler. They said both victims died from gunshot wounds.
Officers remained on the scene for hours conducting an investigation. The county's Bureau of Crimes Against Persons is leading the investigation of the incident, which they are calling a homicide.
No suspects have been taken into custody.
Garvin was a full-time paraprofessional with the Special School District. Paraprofessionals provide instructional, behavioral, and other classroom support.
Jennifer Henry, the Executive Director of Communications for Special School District, provided the following statement.
All of us at SSD are saddened to learn of the tragic death of Charese Garvin and her daughter. Ms. Garvin joined the SSD family in August 2019, working as a paraprofessional in the Ferguson-Florissant School District. Our thoughts are with her family and her school community during this very difficult time.
Anyone with information is asked to call St. Louis County at 636-529-8210 and as to speak with investigators involving the case. Anonymous tips can be left with CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477.
This story will be updated when more information becomes available.