Toddler, Grandparents Found Dead in Ohio Home After Mysterious 911 Call

Three people, including a 22-month-old toddler and his two grandparents, were found shot dead in an Ohio home, authorities announced Thursday.

The victims were identified as Melissa E. Campbell, 51, Gale F. Sanders, 67, and 22-month-old Kozzar J. Lotut. Their bodies were discovered Wednesday at a residence in Gnadenhutten, a village south of Canton in Tuscarawas County.

Investigators are piecing together the events that led to the discovery, which followed a mysterious 911 call received by emergency dispatchers shortly after 4 a.m. Wednesday. The call abruptly disconnected without the caller providing an address. When operators attempted to call the number back, they reportedly heard a faint voice say the word "help."

This plea prompted an urgent investigation by the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office, which eventually traced the call to the Gnadenhutten home. Evidence gathered at the scene, including a firearm found near one of the bodies, has led investigators to suspect the incident may be a murder-suicide. However, officials have not publicly identified a suspected shooter or detailed the sequence of events.

The Tuscarawas County Coroner's Office confirmed that all three victims sustained gunshot wounds. Campbell and Sanders were identified as the toddler's grandparents, who reportedly assisted in caring for Kozzar due to his medical disabilities.

The exact timing of the shootings in relation to the 911 call remains under investigation, as does the identity of the person who made the plea for assistance. The sheriff's office indicated that they are exploring the possibility that one individual was responsible for the deaths of the others before taking their own life.

The deaths have sent shockwaves through the small, rural community of Gnadenhutten. Deputies gained entry to the home with the assistance of a family member already present at the scene.