Father, two children found dead in car

CLAYTON -- A 35-year-old man, his 6-year-old daughter and his 4-year-old son were found dead in the man's car east of Clayton early this afternoon in what authorities said was an apparent double murder and suicide.

The car was parked in the driveway of the man's wife's home, a duplex at 1340 Vinson Road. The Johnston County Sheriff's Department identified the father as Stephen Henry and the children as Ashley and Gregory Henry.

Once the bodies were removed, sheriff's investigators spent more than two hours gleaning evidence from the car outside a neat white duplex with green shutters.

Two child safety seats, one with what appeared to be blood stains streaked across most of the back, sat on the driveway. Deputies also bagged up two children’s jackets — one pink, one gray and red.

Blood also stained the inside of the driver's door.

The children's 34-year-old mother, Dawn Henry, and their father were in a custody battle, said sheriff's department spokeswoman Tammy Amaon. Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell said the couple had been separated for several months and were sharing custody of their two children.

Bizzell said the couple had an appointment this morning for a mediation session in the custody dispute. Stephen Henry did not show up, Bizzell said.

Sometime this afternoon, Dawn Henry drove by her home and saw her husband's car in the driveway, the sheriff said. There was a history of domestic violence, Bizzell said, and she decided to call the sheriff's office instead of going inside her home.

When deputies arrived, they found the father and children dead inside the Honda in the driveway. Authorities have not revealed the cause of death.

"This is domestic violence that tragically took the lives of two young children," Bizzell said.

Neighbors said the girl was enrolled at River Dell Elementary. The mother is an employee of Johnston County schools.

Next-door neighbor Harold Parrish said he often saw the two children playing in a creek that separates their homes during the few months since the family moved in.

The deaths shocked the neighborhood.

"It's something you hate to see," Parrish said.