– Difficult to take in

Villagers, family and friends have gathered for the mourning service in Torpo church on Maundy Thursday.

The flag is flown at half-mast outside the church. The mourners were received by rescue teams and the mayor who is standing outside.

On Saturday evening, four people were found dead in their home in the small village of Torpo in Hallingdal.

It was Ingunn Slaatten (53) and her adult children, Sander (22) and Signe (18), who were found dead.

Councilor Karsten Popp Dideriksen gave a moving speech on behalf of the municipality, himself, and as part of the local community:

– It is unimaginable and cruel. We feel shock and deep despair.

He targets the family and loved ones who are affected.

– We are thinking of you, and you have our strongest sympathy in the difficult situation you are in. You are not alone in this. We stand with you.

He urged the small community to stand together in grief in the future.

– We have to see each other and help each other through the pain. It will take time, and it will take time. The only thing that helps against grief is to grieve, and now is that time.

Then there was solo singing and performance of Give me your hand, friend. In addition to speeches, there will be poetry readings, solo singing and hymn singing.

The family with regards

Pastor Sveinung Hansen ended the service by passing on a greeting:

– I would like to greet you from the immediate family and express a warm thank you and the greatest gratitude for all the support from family, friends, acquaintances and strangers they have received in recent days, he says.

Outside the church, he tells VG that he has met some of the relatives in recent days.

– It is clear that we can only imagine how they feel. But they clearly expressed that they greatly appreciate the support they receive.

He himself says that it has been tough to prepare the service:

– At the same time, it was nice for myself to meet the local population again. There is something about the fact that when tears fall, we show that we have lost something we love.

He himself lives in Ål, but has been to the church in Torpo several times in the last week:

– Here relatives and friends cross paths. It’s so small here, so people know everyone. I have noticed that there are lit candles and flowers. I think people take care of each other.

Councilor Karsten Popp Dideriksen tells VG that he knew the mother in the family.

– We are a small community and the mother in the family worked as a teacher. When you know people, it is even more difficult to understand that something horrible can happen, he says.

– How was it to get that message?

– It was terribly sad, incomprehensible and soul-shattering. Because such things should not happen.

Bishop Jan Otto Myrseth spent time talking about the shock that shook both the small town – and the whole of Norway.

– It was very strong, not least in light of the fact that I was here exactly two weeks ago, he tells VG.

Then he was visiting on an occasion with a completely different sign:

– We visited the school and were welcomed with a macarena dance and proud students. Then this is just so totally full of contrasts. It is difficult to take in how dramatic this is for a small local community of 300-400 people.

– Even though it is a terribly gloomy backdrop, I think it is good and important to meet when there are heavy burdens that hit a local community, says Mayor Solveig Vestenfor to VG.

– How is it for you to be here today?

– Brutal, and at the same time nice. It’s hard to find words, but it feels right to be here.

The fourth person who was found dead is the father of Signe and Sander, and the husband of Ingunn.

The man in his 50s is charged in the case. The police believe he took his own life after killing the other three.

This is what we know about the sequence of events

• Late Friday night: Last sure sign of life from one of the deceased. An acquaintance or friend is in contact with one of the victims.
• Saturday at 3.06 p.m.: The operations center in the South-East police district receives a report of concern from a local police officer. The policeman has received a call from someone who is concerned after one of the victims has not turned up for an appointment.
• Saturday at 15.58: A police patrol arrives at the home in Torpo for a welfare check. They knock and try to see through windows. They do not enter the home.
• Saturday around 8 p.m.: The police have not yet caught up with the family. They arrive at the home for another welfare check. They once again attempt to call and look into the home.
• Saturday at 20.19: The police enter the home. They get hold of a key to it. Inside the home they find four dead people.
• Saturday after 8.19 p.m.: The police withdraw from the residence. At the same time, the operations center is notified that four dead people have been found. Crime scene technicians arrive, and work on site throughout the weekend.
• Sunday at 5:35 p.m.: Two of the bodies are taken out of the home. A few hours later, the next two are transported out. Findings at the scene and the preliminary autopsy report indicate that they died on the night of Saturday, according to the police.

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