A California father was reportedly found dead with his two young daughters in what police are calling a murder-suicide.

The Sacramento Bee reported that the girls’ mother, Amy Hunter, made the grisly discovery on New Year’s Eve while picking her daughters up from a parking lot in West Sacramento, a designated drop-off point. Police said that Hamdy Rouin, 46, and his daughters, Sara, 9, and Sophie, 12, (pictured right and left) were found unresponsive in a car located in the parking lot.

According to People, Rouin was located in the front seat while his two daughters were located in the back seat. They were rushed to UC Davis Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead.

West Sacramento police said they believe all three died as a result of a murder-suicide carried out by the father. Police noted that there were no visible injuries on the girls, according to The Bee, and authorities have not yet determined the cause of death.

Records obtained by the Davis Enterprise indicate that Hamdy was scheduled to be arraigned in Yolo Superior Court Tuesday on charges related to violating a protection order obtained by Hunter, his ex-wife. Hamdy was accused of texting his ex, thus violating the order put in place.

“He felt that he was going to lose custody,” Hamdy’s co-worker, Frank Roman, told KTXL.

Roman, who worked with Hamdy at Roman Private Investigations, showed reported that he cleaned out his office, except for a Koran, a Christmas card, and a picture of his daughters.

Roman said, “This was a planned situation. He knew he wasn’t coming back.”

“I think he just became so overwhelmed with fear that he was going to lose these girls, he felt that that was the [way] out.”

Police said an autopsy will be performed to determine their cause of death.

[Featured Image: Sophie and Sara Rouin/KTXL video screenshot]