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New insight into deaths of mother, daughters

St. Mary's University Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Milo Colton said this is a tricky case.

SAN ANTONIO — EDITOR'S NOTE: The original version of this story inaccurately reflected the sequence of events regarding communication between Cerwin and Olsen. The story has been corrected. 

There is brand new insight into the mystery of a mother and her two daughters who were found dead inside a luxurious Bexar County home last week.

The medical examiner ruled the mom's death as a suicide. But Sheriff Javier Salazar said the case is far from over. 

Heather Cerwin spoke to Nichol Olsen on the phone the day before she was found dead. She has known Olsen for 10 years. She said the night before they were found, she spoke to the mother along with her 10-year-old daughter, London, about an upcoming audition. They were supposed to meet the next day. Instead, the two were found dead, two along with 16-year-old Alexa. 

Cerwin said they sounded happy over the phone and were looking forward to the audition. Cerwin said when Olsen never showed up to the appointment on Thursday she got worried. 

"Nothing is adding up. Nothing is make any sense. They loved each other."

Before the names were officially released, Cerwin found out the news Friday when she got a notification on her phone. 

"I knew," she said. "You know how you know in your heart something is wrong. It was heart-wrenching to say the least."

RELATED: Father demands truth to be told in deaths of daughter, ex-wife

Milo Colton, an associate professor of criminal justice at St. Mary's University, called the case a tricky one.  

"It's hard to wrap your head around how a parent could take the life of one their children," he said. "It is horrifying."

Colton said the profile for most murder-suicides involves a male as the culprit, and in most cases domestic violence is at the root of the issue. He added the medical examiner's conclusion is right the majority of the time. 

"There are some instances where they came to a decision too quickly," he said. "San Antonio, though, has a pretty good record."

Olsen's boyfriend found the bodies. According to Salazar, he is cooperating with investigators and at this time he is a person of interest.

"I am sure they are checking his story, probably going to make him submit to a polygraph, checking the pings on the cellphone," Colton said. 

However, family and friends like Cerwin still just want answers. 

"They were the most beautiful people I have ever known," she said. "Absolutely gorgeous, their hearts, inside and out."

Colton told KENS 5 that research shows a dozen murder-suicides happen every week in the U.S. In regards to this investigation, the Bexar County Sheriff's Office said Thursday there has been no update. 

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