NORTH BELLMORE –– Police said four children discovered both of their parents dead at their home Tuesday afternoon in what appeared to be a murder-suicide. Officials said the children found their mother, Sherrelle Hayes, stabbed to death on the laundry room floor. The father, Thomas Hayes, left a note for his children instructing them to call 911 because he and Sherrelle were injured, detectives said. When rescuers arrived, they discovered the father hanging from his bedroom ceiling, after which he was taken to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead, police said.

Police said the couple had been experiencing marital and legal issues with the father having problems relating to an open larceny case and possible jail sentence.