Hayes family holds onto happy memories of lost children - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Chris and Mandy Hayes lost their children, Paige, Logan and Madalyn in an unimaginable tragedy. Police say last Monday, the children's grandmother Sandy Ford and Uncle Randy Ford barricaded the children and themselves in a garage, turned on a truck and killed themselves and the children with carbon monoxide poisoning, all apparently as the result of a custody dispute.

Chris and Mandy didn't want to talk about those events, but the did want to thank the community for an outpouring of support.

It breaks their hearts that their 10-month-old son Jayden will never know his older brothers and sisters. 

Dad Chris Hayes says they were happy children. "My children were extremely happy...their smiles...their laughter."

They recalled that the kids had recently taken up horseback riding and that Logan loved to help around the house. Mom Mandy remembers, "Any work that needed to be done, he'd jump right in."

Now they are left with memories and many questions. Chris and Mandy say they would like to see the notes police say were left behind.

Mandy says, "It's hard not knowing. It'd be worse not knowing everything that can fill in the pieces."

Chris says police tell him there were three notes, one for the children's grandfather and one each for Chris and Mandy. He says police will give him the notes once the investigation is closed.

Right now the couple say they want to thank everyone who offered help and support.

"I can't change what happened, nobody can, all we can do is look for positives." Chris says.  "The outreach, the memories of my children... They will live on forever."