Mom, 2 kids found dead in Sandusky home

Police decline to discuss deaths

Friends Carrie Greenman, right, and David, (who did not want to use his last name), left, stand in front of the home of Heather Jackson, 23, who was found murdered in her home on John Street in Sandusky. Her 3-year-old daughter and 18-month-old son were also found dead at the scene.

SANDUSKY — Police today declined to discuss the deaths of a woman and two young children found inside a Sandusky home on Saturday.

Dead inside the home were Heather Jackson, 23, and her two children, Celina, 3, and Wayne, Jr., 18 months. Mrs. Jackson’s body was found wedged between a mattress and a bed frame; the two children were found inside a closet.

The bodies were turned over to the Lucas County Coroner’s Office; autopsies are expected to be completed on Tuesday, police said.

Police declined to comment on the cause of death, motive, or suspects and only said additional information — aside from a written statement — could be available on Monday.

The deaths are being investigated as homicides.

Karlee Tomek, 17, of Sandusky, a second cousin to Mrs. Jackson, said the family was told by authorities that the three were strangled, but there were no signs of trauma on the bodies.

Family reported that police said there were no signs of forced entry into the home; finger print dust was visible on the front door.

Police went to the home at 723 John St. at 6:34 p.m. on Saturday evening after someone asked police to do a “well-being check” because Mrs. Jackson hadn’t been heard from all day.

Inside the home, police found the bodies; the department has asked the Bureau of Criminal Investigations to assist.

Neighbors reported that police set up a large perimeter around the house, marking a working crime scene with yellow tape around the entire property line, and were at the home until at least 2:30 a.m.

Debbie Howman, who has lived next door for 22 years, said she and her family, who were up until about 3 a.m. Saturday, did not hear a disturbance from Mrs. Jackson’s house, only the sound of a truck coming and going maybe a time or two.

The Tomek youth said Mrs. Jackson moved into the John Street home about a week ago.

“She didn’t deserve nothing like this,” the Tomek youth said. “She was nothing but kind.”

Contact Taylor Dungjen at: tdungjen@theblade.com, 419-724-6054, or on Twitter @tdungjen_Blade.