FISHERS, Ind. (WTHR) - The Hamilton County coroner ruled the deaths of two Fishers teachers as a murder-suicide Friday afternoon.
From the start of their investigation, police suspected no one other than the victims was involved. Autopsies confirm their beliefs.
According the coroner, 44-year-old Kristal Sergi was murdered.
She was shot numerous times. Frank Sergi, her estranged husband, killed himself.
Court records show they were in the middle of a divorce and living separately.
Teachers for more than 20 years, the couple was well known and well respected.
Thursday night during a candle light vigil, grieving co-workers, students and parents leaned on each other as they tried to make sense of the tragedy.
Kristal Sergi taught at Hoosier Road Elementary.
Frank Sergi taught art at Fall Creek Intermediate.
Valentine and Aimee Klimkowski have two small children in HSE Schools.
“They are sad,” Valentine said. “They have questions too.”
And the couple is trying to give Josiah and Hailee the right answers
“How we can communicate this to our kids in a way that shows love and respect and really have them understand it,” Valentine asked.
‘You explain death to children with a lot of compassion,” Kimble Richardson said. Richardson is a licensed mental health counselor with the Community Health Network.
“Generally they need a listening ear and a big heart and to told not all the details but that a person died,” Richardson explained.
Expressions like passed away or gone to a better place, Richardson explained may confuse some kids. You can use the words, they died, he said
Parents need to know that kids can feed off their emotions.
Look out for unusual fears or behavior like children suddenly wanting sleep with the lights on or with someone else. Say we love you, we love you and give them the extra hugs and kisses and spend extra time with them,” he explained.
Richardson said parents should look out for children threatening to hurt themselves or someone else. Firearms and ammunition should be safely locked away.
He believes children are remarkably resilient and while some children may need extended care, the majority will bounce back from this tragedy.