UPDATED 4:05 p.m: The Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office has found that Danny M. Abbott killed his wife and son before killing himself late Sunday in Rainier.
Larry Lewman, deputy state medical examiner, said Abbott's wife and son died of cutting and stabbing injuries to the neck and elsewhere. Danny Abbott died of self-inflicted cutting wounds to the neck. Lewman said results of their autopsies, performed Tuesday, were conclusive.
The three people were identified Monday by the Columbia County District Attorney's Office as Danny M. Abbott, 48; Laury J. Abbott, 44; and Danny Abbott Jr., 8.
They were found in a home owned by Danny Abbott in the 75300 block of Fern Hill Loop late Sunday night. Columbia County District Attorney Steve Atchison said he was contacted at about midnight Monday and declined to elaborate about the specifics of what first responders saw on the scene. Danny Abbott's mother was the first to find the bodies, Jeremy Gunn, Laury Abbott's brother-in-law, said.
The couple had been separated for about nine months, and Laury Abbott was seeking a divorce, her family said Monday. Laury Abbott had custody of her 8-year-old son during the week and was living with her youngest sister in St. Helens, said Wanda Prosser, Laury Abbott's mother. Laury Abbott went to pick up her son from her husband Sunday, Prosser said.
Prosser said the couple met at Rainier High School; Laury Abbott graduated from the high school and Danny Abbott left the school, Prosser said. They got married about 12 years ago, Prosser said.
Family members said Laury Abbott had expressed safety concerns, according to an Oregon State Police news release issued Tuesday afternoon.
Danny Abbott's family declined to comment when reached by an Oregonian/OregonLive reporter Monday evening.
Danny Abbott Jr. attended McBride Elementary in St. Helens. He was a second-grader.
The St. Helens School District issued a statement Tuesday saying Danny was an enthusiastic and curious student who was "a natural leader to whom others were drawn."
"True to his character, Danny recently took a kindergarten student under his wing, serving as an important mentor and friend," the statement said.
The statement said Danny transferred into the district last fall and that district counselors are available for students and staff.
"We already miss his warm brown eyes and exuberance," the statement said.
Lynne Terry of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report.
-- Jim Ryan
503-221-8005