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'Horrific Ending' As Mother, 2 Children Found Dead Inside Minivan

LONE TREE, Colo. (CBS4) - A Highlands Ranch woman and her two children have been found dead in their car following a report that they had gone missing.

"We certainly didn't see this horrific ending that this case has come to today," said Douglas County Chief Deputy Steve Johnson.

Jennifer Laber
Jennifer Laber (credit: Douglas County)

The husband of Jennifer Laber, 36, reported to the Douglas County Sheriff's office that his wife and their two boys were missing on Tuesday night.

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

The woman and the boys -- Adam, 3, and Ethan, 5 -- were last seen on Tuesday afternoon leaving Bear Canyon Elementary School before the school day was over.

A surveillance image authorities released showed them outside the school at 2 p.m.

Jennifer Laber
(credit: Douglas County)

Police also released a description of Laber's minivan in hopes someone might spot it.

After daybreak on Wednesday a passerby in Lone Tree reported seeing a vehicle in a strange place and reported it to police.

Jennifer Laber case
(credit: CBS)

"At 7:47 a.m. the Lone Tree Police received a call of an unknown trouble associated with a silver minivan here in the parking lot of 7848 East County Line Road," said Sgt. Tim Beals of the Lone Tree Police Department. "Officer responded to the scene and realized that the van that was here in the parking lot matched the description of the van that was reported associated with three missing people from the Douglas County Sheriff's office."

The three bodies were found inside the minivan, which was at a Sports Authority building in the loading dock area.

Copter4 flew over the location where the minivan was found. The area was blocked off with crime tape.

Jennifer Laber case
(credit: CBS)

Police so far aren't releasing the cause of death of the three people, but Laber's mother Linda Krannich said they died from gunshot wounds.

No suspects have been identified in the case, and police said they believe there is no threat to public. An "active, ongoing" investigation is underway, according to Johnson.

"Allow us time to piece this together and give this father the answers that he so desperately is going to need as he faces just this hollow time in his life and the other members of his family," he said.

Krannich, who lives in Minnesota, told CBS4 Laber was happily married and was a stay-at-home mom. She said she's devastated by the news.

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