A preliminary investigation shows Sonia Loja, 36, killed her children, Junior Panjon, 12, Joselyn Panjon, 10, and Jonael Panjon, 5, on Wednesday before killing herself, Danbury Police Detective Capt. Mark Williams said. Williams said the children appeared to have died of strangulation and Loja died hanging from a shed in the backyard. Autopsies were scheduled for Thursday. “A truly horrific event occurred in our city yesterday and we mourn the tragic loss of life,” said Danbury Mayor Dean Esposito. He added that Danbury Public Schools and the city will provide mental health and counseling services in the coming days. “Our community mourns the innocent lives that were taken from us,” Esposito said in a statement. “We’ll get through this together.” Loja was cited twice in June for operating an illegal daycare out of the Whaley Street home, according to Maggie Adair, director of community relations for the state Office of Early Childhood. Loja is believed to have stopped operating the daycare in late June, Adair said. Two of the children killed were students in Danbury Public Schools, Superintendent Kevin Walston said Thursday. “Our thoughts are with everyone in the Danbury community affected by this tragedy and we grieve with you,” Walston said. “Losing children to violence is becoming all too common in our nation and events like these shine a light on the challenges facing communities, especially around mental health, that leave so many people vulnerable.” The school district will have a student services team available at Morris Street School and Westside Middle School from 10 a.m. to noon Monday. Services are available for all students, staff or family members who need help or support. More than half a dozen city agencies are working with Nuvance Health in Danbury to provide services to family and friends of those who died, Esposito said. Police and firefighters will also be advised. “As this is also an emotionally damaging incident for first responders, services have been extended to public safety personnel who responded to the scene,” Williams said. Danbury Police said they were called to the home around 6:30 Wednesday afternoon for a welfare check. The man who called was distraught and crying, Chief Patrick Ridenhour said Wednesday night. At the home, Ridenhour said officers found three children dead. Officers investigated further and discovered a dead woman in a shed in the backyard, according to Ridenhour. Investigators learned the mother and children lived in the home with two other adults who were not present when police arrived, Williams said. Police remained at the scene Thursday and the backyard and front of the gray, one-story home were cordoned off with yellow police tape. A well-maintained garden is located in the backyard, along with a children’s house and swing set. A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said he would see children from the house walking to the bus stop every morning. He said they usually had a dog with them. He would wave and ask how their days were going, she said. It makes him uncomfortable not knowing what the people who live near him can do, he said. Neighbor Ralph Biaugher said he also often saw children at the home, happily playing outside. “They always give me a hand when I get out of the car,” Biaugher said. “When I get off work, they’re playing in the yard, laughing, riding bikes. Nothing out of the ordinary. You’d never think something like this wouldn’t happen.” “It’s crazy,” he said. “Do not understand. I’m just curious. … Four dead. In my neighbourhood. Kind of a hard pill to swallow.” Biaugher said he’s never seen police activity in the 25 years he’s lived there. “This is a great neighborhood,” he said. “Great neighborhood.” Atkin Guishard, another neighbor, agreed. “This is a very quiet neighborhood, if something happens, everyone on the block is sure to know,” said Guishard, who has lived there for 18 years. “But this is a tragedy I can’t even fathom.” He said he was “horrified” when he learned of the violent deaths. “It’s shocking. I can not believe it. I’m still shaking,” Guishard said. “I can’t believe something like this happened on this road. It is a very quiet street. You don’t hear about things like that happening here.” As the birds took to Twitter, he said: “If you listen now, this is usually how it is in this area. It’s a quiet neighborhood.” The only previous issue the neighbors knew about was an illegal day care operation. According to Adair, the Office of Early Childhood received an anonymous complaint on May 31 that child care was being provided at the home. On June 2, early childhood staff visited the home and “documented illegal care provided by Ms. Loja.” They issued Loja a notice for operating an illegal day care, Adair said. Staff members made a follow-up visit June 6 and saw children still present who Loja claimed were relatives, Adair said. Inspectors returned to the home June 29 and Loja was again found to be providing illegal day care, Adair said. The cease and desist request was issued in Spanish, Adair said. The next day, staff visited again and confirmed that Loja was no longer providing illegal child care, Adair said. Anyone having thoughts of harming themselves or accessing free and confidential mental health support can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 800-273-8255 (en Español: 888-628-9454; Deaf and Hard of Hearing: 800 -799-4889) or visit SuicidePreventionLifeline.org. People in need can also text the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. Staff writer Liz Hardaway contributed to this report.
