A Madison County community is mourning the deaths of three family members who were found dead inside a home Friday morning in what investigators are describing as a suspected murder-suicide involving a propane leak. Authorities identified the deceased as 76-year-old Steve M. Sislo, 72-year-old Donna Walker-Sislo, and Jordan Sislo.
Madison County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a residence on McCormick Road shortly after 9 a.m. Friday to conduct a welfare check. When the first deputy arrived, officials said they detected a strong odor of propane coming from the residence and heard gas leaking from inside. Concerned for the safety of those inside, deputies looked through a window and saw two deceased adults. Authorities subsequently entered the residence and discovered a third adult who was also deceased.
Investigators believe the deaths were the result of an apparent double murder-suicide and said the propane leak was connected to the incident. The exact circumstances surrounding the deaths remain under investigation. Authorities emphasised that the incident appears to have been isolated and that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
New York State Police assisted Madison County authorities with the investigation. Investigators are continuing to examine the evidence and circumstances surrounding the deaths, and additional information is expected to be released as the case develops.
Madison County Murder-Suicide; Community Mourns Three Lives Lost
The deaths have left neighbours and members of the surrounding Madison County community struggling to understand the tragedy. Residents described the Sislo family as familiar members of the neighbourhood and said the loss of three people from the same household has been particularly difficult for the community to process.
Neighbours remembered Steve and Donna as long-time members of the area whose presence had become part of the fabric of the neighbourhood. Jordan was also remembered with affection, with residents expressing sadness that three lives had been lost in such tragic circumstances. Community members have offered condolences to relatives and friends of the family, remembering the three deceased not simply through the circumstances of their deaths but through the years they spent as members of the local community.
One of the most difficult aspects of the tragedy, neighbors said, is knowing that a family that was once part of their everyday surroundings will no longer be there. Residents have described the home as a familiar property in the neighborhood and said the news has brought grief and shock to those living nearby.
The property is a three-bedroom ranch home built in 2004 on approximately 10 acres. Public property records indicate that it is owned by Steve M. Sislo, Donna Walker-Sislo, and a Sislo Family Trust. The property has an estimated market value of approximately $450,000.
As investigators continue working to establish exactly what happened inside the home, friends and neighbours are left remembering Steve, Donna and Jordan and mourning three lives lost in a deeply tragic event. The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances leading up to the deaths or the identities of any potential witnesses.
The Madison County community continues to extend its sympathy to the family, friends and loved ones of Steve M. Sislo, Donna Walker-Sislo and Jordan Sislo during this difficult time.