Neighbor discovers the bodies found in Preston home

UPDATE: A neighbor was the one who found four bodies inside a Preston home Sunday. Jim Goodsell is a neighbor and close friend of the family.

Jim Goodsell told Local News 8/KIDK Eyewitness News 3 that he found the bodies of the father, 37-year-old Tate Spillett, and his three children, two boys and a girl.

Preston police have identified the children as Corbin Hillaker, 15; “Tate” McCoy Spillett, 7; and Jessica Spillett, 6.

Police said they are investigating it as a murder-suicide.

The neighbor said his son, Dillon Goodsell, is friends with the older boy and hadn’t heard from him all day. So he decided to do a welfare check on him.

When he arrived at the house, he found the door was open and saw his friend in his room. He called to him and got no response. He realized something was very wrong. Dillon Goodsell called his dad and they discovered the bodies inside the home.

“So I went down there and when I went in the home, I knew right away that something was wrong,” Jim Goodsell said.

Jim Goodsell said they were already dead.

“I know it was a huge shock to my boy when he found them because they’ve been best friends for as long as I can remember,” Jim Goodsell continued.

Goodsell said the kids were in their beds and looked as if they were sleeping. He said he felt Jessica’s cheek to see if she was alive. He said her cheek was still slightly warm. He said Tate Spillett was found in another room with a rifle.

Police ruled the time of death at about 4:30 a.m. Sunday morning.

Jim Goodsell said no matter what the reason may have been, it’s just a pure tragedy and loss for the community.

“To see kids that young with such a tragedy happening, it’s really hard to deal with,” he said. “It’ll be a big void to fill.”

Police confirmed the mother was out of town at the time. There is also another teenage daughter who was away at school, according to Geddes.

Preston police said they don’t’ have a motive.

Jim Goodsell described Spillett as a loving father who lived for his kids. He said he is in complete shock at what happened.

The home is located at 67 West and 200 South in Preston.

Two fundraising accounts have been set up on the internet to help the family with funeral expenses.

https://www.gofundme.com/funeral-services-spillett-family
https://www.youcaring.com/summerlaytonspillett-761072