Massachusetts authorities are investigating the apparent murder-suicide that took place in a two-story condominium in Ablington, Plymouth County early on Monday.
The bodies of five family members have been found shot dead inside the home. Authorities identified the victims as 40-year-old Deirdre Zaccardi, 43-year-old Joseph Zaccardi, their 11-year-old daughter Alexis and their 9-year-old twin, Nathaniel and Kathryn.
The gruesome incident was discovered by a family relative who came to pick up one of the children to school at around 7:30 a.m.
"The person found an individual bleeding, laying in a position on the couch in the downstairs area and they called the police," DA Tim Cruz said.
The father seemed to have been struggling with his career as a children's book author before the incident.