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A Syracuse mother killed herself and her two daughters in January, investigators officially announced Tuesday.

Kyler Ann Ramsdell-Oliva, 32, shot her daughters Kenadee Oliva, 13, and Isabella Oliva, 7, about 7 p.m. Jan. 14.

Investigators initially believed the killing was a murder-suicide, and police confirmed those suspicions based on information from the department's crime scene investigators and the state medical examiner. Syracuse police Officer Erin Behm said Tuesday the investigation confirmed that Ramsdell-Oliva pulled the trigger, though police have not said what prompted the killings.

The investigation was closed Tuesday.

Police found the bodies after they responded to a 911 call reporting shots fired. Ramsdell-Oliva's former fiance — apparently having arrived to move his things out of the home — was found outside, reportedly in shock over the tragic turn of events.

Witnesses said he was distraught, talking to himself and asking, "Why [did she] do that?"

Behm said the ex-fiance, Ramsdell-Oliva and girls had moved into the home within the last three months. The night before the shooting, officers went by the home to supervise an exchange of property between Ramsdell-Oliva and her ex-fiance, who was moving out. The man was questioned, along with other family members and friends, but was cleared of any involvement in the slayings.

Other than the Jan. 13 night call when the couple broke up, police had not had any reports of problems at the address, Behm said.

Friends and neighbors were unable to shed much light on the killings, saying only that the family seemed happy.

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