SAN FRANCISCO — October 8, 2025 —
A quiet San Francisco neighborhood was rocked Wednesday afternoon when police discovered four people — including two children — dead inside a home on Monterey Boulevard. Authorities are treating the case as a criminal investigation and say the circumstances surrounding the deaths are “suspicious.”
Grim Discovery in Westwood Highlands
Officers from the San Francisco Police Department responded to the home shortly after 1 p.m. following a request for a welfare check. When they entered the residence, located in the usually tranquil Westwood Highlands neighborhood near City College, they found four bodies inside.
According to the San Francisco Fire Department, the deceased include two adults and two minors. Their identities and ages have not yet been released pending notification of next of kin.
Police have not disclosed how the victims died, but investigators confirmed that the case is being handled by the department’s Homicide Detail.
“At this stage, we’re treating the incident as a criminal investigation,” said SFPD spokesperson Officer Robert Rueca. “There is no indication of an ongoing threat to the community.”
Neighborhood in Shock
The scene quickly drew a heavy police presence, with yellow tape sealing off the block as investigators, forensic teams, and medical examiners worked into the night.
Neighbors described the family who lived there as “quiet and kind.” One resident said she often saw the children playing outside after school.
“They were a normal, friendly family,” said longtime neighbor Anne Peterson. “We can’t believe something like this could happen here.”
The Westwood Highlands area is known for its family homes and low crime rate, making the tragedy especially unsettling for locals.
Property and Family Background
Public records show the home had recently gone through foreclosure proceedings, with the property changing hands earlier this year. It remains unclear whether that played any role in the incident.
Investigators are examining every angle, including possible domestic issues, financial stress, or an external threat. As of Wednesday evening, police had not ruled out murder-suicide as a possibility but said it was too early to draw conclusions.
Ongoing Investigation
The San Francisco Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting autopsies to determine the official cause and manner of death. Those results are expected to guide the next phase of the investigation.
Detectives are also canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses and checking surveillance footage from nearby homes and businesses to establish a timeline of events leading up to the deaths.
Community Reassured but Uneasy
Despite reassurances from police that the incident appears isolated, residents remain on edge.
“This is a very close-knit neighborhood,” said one resident who declined to be named. “We all look out for each other, and something like this makes you question how well we really know what’s going on behind closed doors.”
Authorities Urge Information
SFPD has urged anyone with information about the case to contact the Homicide Detail at (415) 553-1145 or leave an anonymous tip via Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the message with “SFPD.”
What Happens Next
As autopsy results come in and investigators analyze evidence from the home, police hope to piece together the final moments that led to one of San Francisco’s deadliest domestic incidents in recent years.
For now, the city mourns — and waits for answers.