A tragic situation unfolded in Utah’s Canyonlands National Park on January 8, with the discovery of two Coloradans involved in what’s being investigated as a murder-suicide.

According to the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office (Utah), park rangers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the Island in the Sky district of the park at about 8:15 a.m. on January 8. This initial report came from a National Park Service employee who noticed the vehicle parked in a no camping area, with the vehicle believed to have been there overnight.

Once at the scene, an unresponsive six-year-old male was found inside of the vehicle with a deceased female adult found outside of the vehicle. Emergency life-saving measures were immediately attempted on the young male, though these efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. The boy was pronounced deceased upon arrival at a local hospital.

Officials later confirmed that the two that were deceased were a mother and son, both of whom had been reported missing by the husband and father in Colorado on January 7.

“Out of respect for the family and the tragedy they are experiencing, we are not releasing the names of the individuals at this time,” wrote the sheriff’s office.

“This is a heartbreaking tragedy, and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family during this incredible difficult time,” read a statement from the sheriff’s office. “Our investigators are diligently working on this case. At this time, there is no evidence to suggest any ongoing threat to public safety. Based on all evidence obtained so far, this case is being investigated as a homicide and suicide.”

The Island in the Sky Visitor Center at Canyonlands National Park is located about 15 miles southwest of Moab, Utah. Details were not provided regarding where the family involved in this heartbreaking situation was from aside from that the two were reported missing out of Colorado.

STAY INFORMED: Get free Colorado news with our daily newsletter (Click here)