Anoka County Sheriff’s Office investigates deaths of mom, 2 kids

Three identified had ties to Elk River and Monticello as well as Twin Lakes Elementary

On Tuesday morning, April 9, the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office announced that it is investigating the deaths of three individuals after an incident at Rum River Central Park in Ramsey.

ACSO identified the victims as Monticello residents Jessica Linette Frank, 33, Solara Rea Frank, 9, and Laiken Lea Frank, 4, in an April 11 press release.

Solara was a student at Twin Lakes Elementary School in Elk River.

According to ACSO’s April 9 release, at 9:58 a.m. April 8, the Ramey Police Department and ACSO responded to a welfare check at Rum River Central Park. Responders found an adult female and juvenile female dead in an SUV, along with an injured juvenile male. The juvenile male was later declared dead at the hospital.

ACSO states in the press release that it “appears to be an isolated incident and there is no known threat to the public.”

ACSO is not currently looking for any suspect, the Star Tribune reported on April 9.

The Ramsey Police Department and Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office are assisting in the investigation.

Twin Lakes Elementary School sent a letter home to families, which was reported on WCCO. The letter stated: “We learned of the death of a third grade student... at Twin Lakes Elementary, her brother.... who was in Discovery Learning pre-school, and their mother. Our hearts are with the (family) and all of those impacted during this difficult time.”

A *Spotfund account was set up for the Shawn Frank family that had raised more than $32,400 from 349 donors by 11 a.m. on April 11, surpassing the listed goal on the social media page of $20,000.

The page states: “This families world has been turned upside down with the tragic loss of Solara and Laiken. If you can find it in your heart to help this family with funeral expenses (and) living expenses so Shawn, Brayden and Carley can focus on their own healing.”

(Editor’s note: ABC Newspapers of APG of East Central Minnesota contributed to this report.)