5 family members found dead in another case of murder-suicide in the United States this time in Ohio

By Edward Era Barbacena 

A top Ohio accountant, her businessman husband and their three children aged 15, 12 and 9 have been identified as the victims of a horrific murder-suicide. 

Jason Dunham, 46, Melissa Dunham, 42, and Renee, 15, Amber, 12, and Evan, 9 were found dead in their home on Carnation Avenue Northwest, Uniontown, on Thursday evening. 

All died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to Harry Campbell, chief investigator of the Stark County Coroner's Office, but it remains unclear who shot who. 

The family died in what officers called a 'domestic dispute turned deadly'. 

Police in Stark County said they found the deceased while performing a welfare check at the Dunham's address. Campbell said they were pronounced dead at 9:52pm. 

Neighbors said the couple had moved in before they started their family, almost 20 years ago. 

Edmond Gazdacko said the three kids would often play together with his grandkids when they came to visit. 

Earlier this summer, the Dunham children and his family played a baseball game in his front yard. 

Gazdacko said he and his wife Denise never had any issues with the Dunhams, and Melissa was a wonderful mother. 

Melissa Dunham was a partner at accounting firm Bober Markey Fedorovich & Co in Fairlawn, according to LinkedIn. 

She held a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Westminster College, an MBA from Kent State University, and a Master of Taxation from The University of Akron.  

Her accolades include the Woman of Professional Excellence award presented by the Women’s Network and the 30 For the Future Award from the Greater Akron Chamber. 

The mom-of-three's appointment to partner was announced in June: 'With a career spanning nearly two decades at BMF, Melissa has demonstrated exceptional leadership and contributed significantly to the firm’s success.' 

A school spokesperson said the community has been notified but expects many will be impacted

The firm's website says she specialized in corporate tax returns, with an expertise in Employer Retention Credit program reimbursements. 

Elizabeth Bartz, CEO of Akron-based State and Federal Communications, said was 'devastated' by the news. She had known Melissa Dunham for more than 10 years.  

'She’s a great Girl Scouts mom. She would always have her daughters send me their cookie order forms,' she told the Canton Repository. 

'They would deliver them in person and write me thank you notes.' 

Lake County Local school district superintendent Kevin Tobin confirmed on Friday morning that three students were killed in the tragedy. 

He said that the children were all students in the school district. 

'We alerted our parents and our staff,' Tobin said. 

'We have counselors and others meeting (with students) as we speak. We are working through this as calm and compassionate as we can.' 

Police in Stark County said they found the deceased while performing a welfare check within the 13000 block of Carnation Avenue Northwest, Uniontown

He explained that Renee was heavily involved in the school band which was expected to attend an away football game on Friday night.    

'This is going to impact them. They are a family and it is almost two years to the day when we lost another band student after surgery,' Tobin said.

'It's a very, very tragic incident and we will just rally as a school community and as Lake Local community.' 

Uniontown Police Department said it is investigating along with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Stark County Prosecutor's Office.

No one else is believed to have been involved. 

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