Connecticut Mother Kills Herself And Special Needs Son By Driving Car Into River

According to PEOPLE, Connecticut authorities have concluded that the death of a 54-year-old mother and her 22-year-old special needs son was intentional.

The two died after the mother drove her SUV into the Housatonic River. Connie Crowell and her son Jack drowned on July 31, 2020, from a murder-suicide.

Both lived in Monroe, and Jack was a Masuk High School class of 2017 graduate, the Sun reported.

“On the day of the incident, a boater who was in the area, observed the vehicle go into the water and went to assist and provide rescue efforts,” Rinaldi’s statement reads. “The boater made numerous attempts to rescue the occupants of the vehicle. However, Connie Crowell refused to acknowledge or accept the boater’s assistance and rescue efforts,” Seymour Deputy Police Chief Roberto Rinaldi said in a statement to news outlets.

On the day of the tragedy, the vehicle went into the water shortly before 4 PM, after Connie intentionally drove towards Lake Ousatonic—a part of the river.

When rescue workers arrived, the SUV was upside down in the water.

“After a lengthy investigation by the Seymour Police Detective Division, this incident has been determined (a) homicide/suicide,” reads Rinaldi’s statement, according to the reports.