By WJBC Staff

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Police say a man killed his children, set fire to his home, and then killed himself in the basement while his wife slept in a bedroom in their northeast Bloomington home.

In a news release – Police say Eric Ringenberg, 33, strangled his infant and two-year-old sons at 14 Brittany Ct.

His wife Pamela woke to the sound of a smoke alarm and ran for help after she couldn’t find her family or her phone through the smoke. Police and fire were called to the scene about 3 a.m. Tuesday. Pamela was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.

Preliminary autopsies show Eric and his sons died by ‘strangulation via ligature’. Bloomington Police say home surveillance cameras showed Eric hiding the family cell phones in a kitchen cabinet and also show evidence Eric acted alone in his children’s deaths and his own.

State Farm spokesperson Missy Dundov confirmed Pamela is an employee at State Farm Insurance, as was Eric. She said grief counselors are available for co-workers and others affected by the tragedy.

Police make it a point to share a suicide hotline number in their release, encouraging people to use it when they need help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is: 1-800-273-TALK or call PATH CRISIS at 211.

Here is a link to the Bloomington Police Press Release.