Patricia Ortiz, 31, of LeGrand, isaccused of killingher son Matteo Ortiz Lara, 5, and his two sisters Anna Ortiz Lara, 8, and Alexa Ortiz Lara, 3, before inflicting wounds upon herself, according to a statement from the Merced County Sheriff’s Office.

After being transported to a local hospital for her injuries, Ortiz was taken to the Merced County Jail, where she was booked on three counts of murder.

An official cause of death for the children has yet to be determined. Officials are also looking into a motive.

Merced County Sheriff’s Office public information officer Daryl Allen told reporters Wednesday that the tragedywill be hardon the small farming community, KMPH reports. He hopes authorities can bring some closure for the family in wake of the incident.

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Calif. Mom Allegedly Kills Her 3 Children, All of Whom Were under 8 Years Old,

“Le Grand is a very small-knit community, I want to call it a family. I’m from this area and a small town with a population of 16,000 people you know this is something that is going to be very very hard for the community. Everybody knows everybody here,” Allen said.

A memorialof toys, flowers and candles has since formed outside of the Le Grand apartment unit where the trio of children was killed, ABC 30 reports.

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Deputies discovered the scene on the 13000 block of Brice Street while responding to a welfare check at the residence just after 2 p.m. local time, according to Wednesday’s statement.

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3 children under the age of 8 found dead in Merced County apartment,

The sheriff’s office believes Ortiz’s husband, who is also the children’s father, was first to find his wife and children after the incident, per ABC 30.

Allen told reporters that officers received reports of a man “yelling for help” upon arriving on scene, CBS 42 reports.

So far, Allen said that Ortiz has “been cooperative” and has “spoken with the detectives” about the case, according to ABC 30.

AGoFundMecampaign has been set up to pay for funeral expenses for the three deceased children. As of publication, more than $24,000 has been raised toward the $30,000 goal.

She added, “The family would like to thank the community for your support and ask to lift the family in prayers as we navigate this difficult time.”

An investigation into the incident is underway.

source: people.com