A day after police were first called to a Spruce Grove home, where three individuals – identified later as two boys and their father – a memorial had started to grow outside of the house.

The bodies were found Monday morning by the boys’ mother and stepfather, Tracy and Brent Stark.

Brent Stark said they found the bodies at 10 a.m. The couple had arrived to pick up the boys Monday morning, Stark said.

The boys, aged 11 and 13-years-old, have been identified as Ryder and Radek MacDougall.

Their father, identified as Corry MacDougall, was also found dead inside the home.

Stark told CTV News he believed the deaths were the result of a murder-suicide: “Beautiful young lives, snuffed out by a coward,” Stark said.

RCMP said late Tuesday afternoon that police had confirmed the case was a double homicide and suicide, and confirmed the two victims are 11 and 13-year-old boys. The third individual was only identified as a 39-year-old male.

“This is a horrible tragic loss to Spruce Grove and our hearts and prayer go out to the family,” Sgt. Jack Poitras said in a news release.

On Tuesday, Parkland School Division officials said both boys attended Greystone Centennial Middle School. A team has been brought in to help staff and students at the school, and officials are trying to keep some type of normalcy.

Classes are expected to stay in session until Friday. A letter is expected to be sent home to parents with info on supports available to students, and how to help their child cope.

On Tuesday, officials with the Northern Gateway Public School Division issued a statement in the wake of the tragic news, and identified the two boys as former students at the school division.

“Radek and Ryder were former students of Whitecourt Central Elementary and Percy Baxter before moving to Spruce Grove this past summer.

“Many students and staff are understandably struggling with this tragic news. Additional resources and counselling supports have been made available for all students and staff as we begin to process this tragedy.

“Our school division extends deepest condolences to Radek and Ryder’s family and friends and our thoughts and prayers are with them at this most difficult time.”

Outside of the home, a memorial of cards, stuffed toys and flowers had started to grow Tuesday morning.

With files from Nicole Weisberg