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Husband: Mother Of 2 Boys Shot To Death In Van Battled Depression

By Melissa Garcia

PARKER, Colo. (CBS4) - Friends and family members gathered at O'Brien Park in Parker Saturday to remember the mother and her two young children who were found shot to death in their minivan.

Autopsies ruled that Jennifer Laber, 38, her son Ethan, 5, and Adam, 3, all died from single gunshot wounds.

Jennifer Laber
Jennifer Laber (credit: Douglas County)

Officers discovered their bodies Wednesday in the van that was parked outside of a vacant business in Lone Tree.

Police are not yet calling the deaths murder-suicide, but said that officers had found the mother's recently-purchased gun inside the van with the bodies.

Adam Laber, Ethan Laber
Adam and Ethan Laber (credit: CBS)

Family members held a vigil Saturday in the park that was the family's favorite park to spend time together.

Ryan Laber, Jennifer's husband, said that one of the family rituals was hunting for treasure, small treasures like the blue glass gems in jars at the vigil.

People attending were all encouraged to take home a blue gems in honor of the boys.

Laber map

"Smurf treasure," as we called it, Ryan Laber said.

Ryan spoke at the vigil for the first time publicly since the unimaginable loss of his wife and their two sons.

Investigators believe that Jennifer turned the gun on herself.

"My wife Jen had an immense love for her boys," Ryan said. "She dedicated her life to them. She had a sickness ... depression is a disease. It is insidious, coercive, and often operates in silence."

laber-family-vigil-5pkg0-transfer
(credit: CBS)

Loved ones said the vigil's purpose was to honor the lives lost and also to raise awareness on mental illness, especially during a difficult time of year.

"Lord, help us to reach out to those who are depressed, who are struggling, who are suffering in their lives," said Pastor Brad Doty, who led the community in prayer.

laber-family-vigil-5pkg-transfer
(credit: CBS)
laber-family-vigil-5pkg-0transfer
(credit: CBS)

Family members were hoping to prevent more deaths in this who are suffering, and to find joy in the wake of tragedy.

"Despite the shortened lives of Jen and Ethan and Adam, they lived fully," Ryan said. "They played, hugged, smiled, and brought happiness to many lives."

Additional Resources

The Laber Family Memorial Fund had been set up to help the surviving family members with expenses incurred from the tragedy.

Checks can be made payable to:

BridgeWay Church with "Laber Family Memorial Fund" in the memo line.

Checks can be mailed to:

BridgeWay Church
Laber Family Memorial Fund
5201 E. Warren Ave.
Denver, CO 80222

People can donate online at: www.BridgeWay.us. Click on the "Give" icon, then click on the "Give Now" icon.

Melissa Garcia has been reporting for CBS4 News since March 2014. Find her bio here, follow her on Twitter @MelissaGarciaTV, or send your story idea to mkgarcia@cbs.com.

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