Father of 2 victims killed by mother in apparent murder-suicide breaks silence

The father of two young adults who police say were killed by their mother in an apparent murder-suicide last month has spoken publicly on the tragedy for the first time.

Dr. Christopher Edwards, a prominent orthopedic surgeon and chairman of the Atlanta Housing Authority board, took time on Tuesday to thank those who reached out to offer support and condolences in wake of the deaths of his children, 24-year-old Christopher Jr. and 20-year-old Erin.

"The cards and prayers came from all over Georgia, not just Atlanta," Edwards said prior to the housing authority's regularly scheduled meeting, the Atlanta-Journal Constitution reports.

"Then, they came in from the nation, and most recently, they have now been coming in from the world," he continued. "You reached me, and I thank you so very much."

Dr. Edwards also told the assembly that the comments would be his final public statement about the deaths of his family members.

"There are people in need and, as for my family, what they would say — and what we are going to do — is we continue," Edwards said, according to the AJC. "I would implore you, that all of us get on with the business of helping others. Of providing good service. That is what we are going to do. That is the business at hand today."

Chris and Erin Edwards were both found dead along with their mother, 58-year-old Marsha Edwards, in their family's townhouse in a gated community in Vinings, Ga., on Aug. 21 by Cobb County police officers conducting a welfare check.

Marsha Edwards, the ex-wife of Dr. Christopher Edwards, is believed to have shot both of her children before turning the gun on herself. That same day, she had taken to Instagram to gush about the two victims following a summer of travels with both her children.

"I've had the best summer, first with Chis [sic] in Miami, and Erin in Italy," Marsha Edwards wrote on Instagram. "I could not ask for better children."

Neighbors and friends were stunned by the incident, which left multiple communities grappling to understand how such an unthinkable tragedy could befall the seemingly loving family.