Deaths of 5 children believed accidental in Bartow apartment

The five victims found dead inside a Bartow County apartment were children ranging in age from 3 to 12, the county’s coroner said Wednesday.

Investigators believe the deaths were accidental, Coroner Joel Guyton told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The exact causes of death have not been determined pending testing done by the GBI crime lab.

The victims were identified as Wendi Morales-Garcia, 12; Yakelin Morales-Garcia, 11; Gudalupe Morales-Garcia, 8; Johnathan Garcia-Garcia, 4; and Nattaly Garcia-Garcia, 3.

The children’s mother found them Sunday afternoon in the family’s home, Guyton said.

Deputies and GBI agents were called to the apartment, located in the 1700 block of Stonehaven Circle, just after 4:30 p.m., Sheriff Clark Millsap said late Sunday in an emailed statement. The apartment is located in the Stone Haven Falls complex off Joe Frank Harris Parkway.

“Deputies discovered five deceased individuals inside the residence,” Millsap said. “At this time, due to the nature of the investigation no further information will be released.”

No additional details about the investigation have been released.

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