Bloomington Father Brutally Kills Kids, Sets Fire To House, Kills Self

Authorities in Bloomington, Illinois, say 33-year-old Eric Ringenberg hid his family’s cellphones before strangling his two children and intentionally set his house on fire in an effort to kill the mother, Pamela Ringenber, before hanging himself.

Wednesday, Police identified Ringenberg and the two boys only by their initials, 2-year-old CR and infant brother, RR. The wife and mother, Pamela, remains hospitalized for smoke inhalation.

And according to autopsies, the children were strangled to death. The home was equipped with surveillance cameras which police say show Eric Ringenberg putting the cellphones in a kitchen cabinet then intentionally starting a fire in the basement after the children were killed. The father then hung himself. Cameras also reveal that Pamela Ringenberg awoke to the sound of the smoke alarm and searched for her family and cellphone. source

Pamela reportedly sought help from neighbors and eventually fled the home.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends at this difficult time.