RICHMOND, Texas — Lamar Consolidated ISD is mourning the loss of two teachers who were found dead inside of their Fort Bend County home. It's being investigated by the Fort Bend County Sheriff's office as a murder-suicide.
In a release Lamar Consolidated ISD sent to parents, they said the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a home on Darst Field Trail for a wellness check and that’s when they found the two teachers -- identified as fourth-grade teacher Alba Marina Garcia, 34, and fourth-grade teacher Gene Mark Hudgson-Sjogreen,34, -- dead.
The FBCSO said the information given to them was that a family member of Hudgson-Sjogreen contacted the Coast Guard stating he had gone fishing and did not make it to his planned destination afterward.
During the wellness check, deputies said they met with Hudgson-Sjogreen’s father who told them that his son was believed to have gone fishing on Sunday and no one had heard from him since.
Deputies said while they investigated, they found signs of a disturbance inside the home and forced entry was made. That's when they discovered the bodies of Garcia and Hudgson-Sjogreen.
Preliminary research has not shown prior calls to this residence, according to deputies.
Neighbors in the area said it's typically a quiet neighborhood. We spoke with Chris Martinez, who lives across from the home of where the couple lived. He said he didn’t know them well and only interacted with them once.
“It’s sad. It’s tragic. It’s heartbreaking,” he said. “They were young. They were school teachers, third and fourth grade, respectively. I think about the children they taught”
Neighbors said on Monday there was a heavy police presence. Two neighbors tell us they were asked by law enforcement if they heard any gunshots or anything like that and say they heard nothing.
Lamar Consolidated ISD is on spring break, but the district said they still want to offer support to students and staff with numbers people can call for support. When classes resume next week, the district will have staff offering counseling.
Resources for victims of domestic or family violence
While this case is still under investigation, there are resources if you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence. Here are some discreet ways to reach out for help.
The Houston Area Women’s Center has a 24-hour hotline for victims of domestic violence at 713-528-2121 or 1-800-256-0551.
The Family Time Crisis Center can also be reached 24 hours a day at 281-446-2615.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
Crisis Text Line: Text START to 88788.