By Chao Xiong, Star Tribune (Minneapolis) –
RIVER FALLS, Wis. — While the father of three girls found dead in their Wisconsin home sat in jail awaiting homicide charges, authorities on Wednesday were trying to figure out what led to such a horrific crime.
(PHOTO: Linnet Graf left hugged a classmate of Amara Schaffhausen as Graf daughter Ella Graf looked on. The students gathered at Greenwood Elementary School in River Falls, Wisconsin, Wednesday, July 11, 2012, to remember the three Schaffhausen sisters who were found dead at in their Wisconsin home.)
“I’ve been in River Falls for over 34 years, and it’s certainly the worst we’ve seen,” said River Police Chief Roger Leque.
Authorities didn’t release many details, but they outlined a rocky history between Aaron Schaffhausen, 34, and his ex-wife, Jessica Schaffhausen.
Their three daughters Amara, 11; Sophie, 8; and Cecilia Lee, 5, were found dead Tuesday afternoon inside the house they shared with their mother.
Aaron Schaffhausen turned himself into authorities a short time later.
“These girls were bright girls, full of spirit,” said Greenwood Elementary School Principal Nate Schurman. “It’s a terrible tragedy. We are shocked.”
Amara just finished fifth grade at Greenwood and was going to a new school for sixth grade. Sophie was going to be a third-grader at Greenwood, and Cecilia would have started kindergarten this fall.
Leque said Wednesday that the father contacted the mother at some point Tuesday, saying he wanted to visit the girls. It appeared the mother gave permission, and the father went to the house.
A baby sitter was with the girls at the time and left when the father showed up.
Police went to the address after Jessica Schaffhausen called police on her way home because she was concerned for the children’s safety after threats made by their father.
Police said that the house smelled of gas when officers entered and that no one else was in the home. Authorities have not released details of how the girls died or where their bodies were found.
The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s office is handling the autopsies of the girls.
Aaron Schaffhausen, 34, turned himself in to the police about 4:45 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, authorities said. He was not talkative when he did so, Leque said. He is being held in the St. Croix County Jail on suspicion of three counts of first-degree intentional homicide and is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday afternoon. Formal charges will be determined by the county attorney.
Jessica Schaffhausen is safe and assisting police.
“This has had a major impact on our staff. We are in the process of working through that,” Leque said at a news conference Wednesday.
Investigators are reviewing past cases involving Aaron Schaffhausen. There was a domestic disturbance call at the house in 2009. A harassment report was filed in March, alleging that Schaffhausen had called and threatened to harm one of the girls. That case was referred to North Dakota authorities because that’s where the call originated from.
Jessica Schaffhausen filed for divorce in August 2011, and it became final in January. The couple had joint legal custody of the three children, but the children lived with the mother and she was granted authority to make all decisions over health care, schooling, child care providers and non-school activities.
Aaron Schaffhausen was directed to pay child support of $1,353 per month, and he also assumed the couple’s debt of $196,500, which included what appeared to be a mortgage on the house. He had been living in Minot, N.D.
There is no record of any restraining order.
“This is a very sad thing for all of us to deal with,” River Falls City Administrator Scot Simpson said. “This is a small, tight community. This will have a significant impact on this community. … I’m not aware of the last time we’ve had an incident like this.”
The River Falls School District has scheduled staff members and counselors for two sessions open to students and family of Greenwood Elementary school.
Additional support services for community members are being worked out.
The Bakken-Young Funeral Home will be handling funeral arrangements.
A “Benefit Account for Schaffhausen Children” has been established at First National Bank of River Falls or Prescott. Those who wish to donate may call 715-425-2401.
River Falls, a college town about 30 miles east of the Twin Cities, has a population of about 15,000 people.
“It’s pretty shocking,” neighbor Kimberly Riley said after hearing about the deaths. “This is a small town.”
