San Jose mother, 2 children found dead in apparent murder-suicide

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Wendy Vejar didn't know what to think as her frantic neighbor approached her outside of their South San Jose housing complex on Wednesday afternoon.

"He couldn't explain to me," Vejar said. "He kept saying, 'Help me. Help me. My boys are dead.'"

Vejar said she walked inside her neighbor's unit at the Dent Commons shortly before 12:30 p.m. Vejar claims she didn't see anything but was able to comprehend that her neighbor's wife hanged herself after suffocating her two young sons.

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Vejar's family called police, while she called Maria Flores.

"She was hysterical, you know very emotional," Flores said.

"Telling me that our neighbor had been outside screaming hysterically, very emotional, confused that his wife and children had died. They weren't breathing."

The community is understandably devastated.

Flores said the boys were 4 and 7-years-old and went to school with her son.

"My son would always play with the little boys," Flores said. "The kids were always as happy as can be so I never saw this coming."

However, Flores believes the mother may have been battling depression.

Neighbors told ABC7 News the mother lost her job at a nail salon last summer and the father wasn't working.

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"She was independent and was the one who brought the bread home and paid the bills," Flores said.

Denise Coleman, superintendent of the Union School District, confirmed one of the two boys attended nearby Lietz Elementary.

"Students are being informed, based on the information we have, in grade-level-appropriate ways as guided by on-site crisis counselors. We have additionally directed additional teaching and support staff to the school," she said.

As of Thursday afternoon, the identities of the two boys and their mother have not been released by the county coroner's office.

Police have not confirmed a motive and are asking for the public's help.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant T.J. Lewis or Detective Brian Meeker of the San Jose Police Department's Homicide Unit at 408-277-5283.

Persons wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 408-947-7867.