Schools closed and a growing memorial honored James and Caroline Lynch as police continued investigating their deaths with their father.
MT. LEBANON, Pa. — Flowers and small tributes accumulated Wednesday for two young siblings whose deaths with their father shook this Pittsburgh suburb, closing two elementary schools and drawing residents to a memorial as authorities continued investigating an apparent murder-suicide.
James Lynch, 8, and Caroline Lynch, 6, were found Tuesday afternoon with their father, Patrick Lynch, 42, near a parking garage behind the Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building. All three died at the scene. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the children’s deaths homicides Wednesday, while police said preliminary information indicated the case was a murder-suicide.
By Wednesday, the immediate focus for many residents had shifted from the emergency response to mourning the two children. A makeshift memorial appeared near the parking garage, with flowers and other items left in their memory. The municipality later moved the memorial to the pavilion at Clearview Common, where people could gather in a less congested area and the tributes could be protected from rain.
Among those remembering Caroline was 10-year-old Marlow Manion, who knew her from school. He brought flowers to the memorial Wednesday and described her simply as a kind friend. “I came here because I wanted to honor her,” he said. His father, Patrick Manion, said visiting the memorial was something his son believed was important.
The Mt. Lebanon School District closed Markham and Washington elementary schools Wednesday. The district said students at other schools could stay home with excused absences and that school counselors would be available. In a message to families, the district said the deaths involved members of its school community and asked residents to respect the privacy of those affected.
Residents also described a neighborhood changed overnight by the deaths. Some brought flowers despite having no personal connection to the Lynch family. Ralph Knorr, a Mt. Lebanon resident who visited the memorial, said the loss felt close to home and that the community needed to pull together. Other neighbors described an unusually quiet night after news of the deaths spread.
Caroline’s family had previously been involved in efforts to support children with disabilities and their families. Her mother, Anna Lynch, helped co-found the Inclusion Collective after Caroline was diagnosed with Williams syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. Anna Lynch had previously spoken publicly about searching for support after learning of her daughter’s diagnosis and wanting to help other families build connections.
The tragedy also weighed heavily on emergency workers and local officials. Police Chief Jason Haberman said Tuesday that the case would bring a “significant amount of trauma” to the community. Municipal officials later thanked the police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel who responded and tried to save the three family members.
Authorities said officers were dispatched shortly after 4:15 p.m. Tuesday following reports that three people were unconscious near the municipal building and adjacent parking garage. Responders found Patrick, James and Caroline Lynch with injuries from an apparent fall. The medical examiner later determined that James and Caroline died from multiple blunt force injuries and classified both deaths as homicides.
Police have not publicly identified a motive or released a complete account of what happened before the deaths. The Allegheny County Police Department’s homicide unit is leading the investigation, and officials said preliminary information indicated no continuing threat to the wider community.
As investigators worked to establish the remaining facts Wednesday, Mt. Lebanon’s public response centered on the children and those grieving them. The relocated memorial at Clearview Common remained a place for residents to leave tributes while the school district provided support to students and families affected by the deaths.
Author note: Last updated November 4, 2026.