"Pray For My Soul"

"MAYFLOWER, AR — The house fire in Mayflower that killed a grandmother and granddaughter is ruled a murder-suicide.

"Saturday, police and firefighters were called to a home around 6:30 a.m. at 63 Lakeview Circle off Highway 365 between Mayflower and Conway. The victims are 64-year-old Janice Robbins and her granddaughter 8-year-old Abby Robbins.

"Abby moved in with Janice after Abby's father died during the Iraq War years ago.

"In the press conference, Maj. Andy Shock says Janice Robbins retired from the Army in 2005 and retired as a nurse from the VA in 2008.

"When police arrived at the home, the only vehicle on the property, a truck, had an envelope taped to the door handle with the key inside. Police found a plastic tub in the truck with the suicide note from Janice and several personal items like insurance papers, her will, her purse, Abby's birth certificate and financial papers.

"In the suicide note, Janice said among other things, `Can't stand to see Abby left behind` and `pray for my soul.`

"Maj. Shock says Janice was battling some kind of depression and was seeking counseling, but was unsure if she was actually getting any counseling. He also says Abby may have needed help dealing with the loss of her father.

"Authorities say that both Janice and Abby were alive during the fire; smoke was found in their lungs. Abby was stabbed once in the right side of her chest, but it's unclear if that wound would have been fatal."

From KTHV...