Police in Massachusetts are conducting a homicide investigation after three elderly people were found dead in a Newton home Sunday morning.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Newton Chief of Police John Carmichael characterized the investigation as “very active” and said “residents of the Nonantum area should expect to see an increased police presence.”

Police said they responded to the home shortly after 10 a.m. Sunday morning. Neighbor Robin Dickey told WBZ that the slain residents “were churchgoing people.”

“The only reason they were found is because they weren’t in church and somebody came to see if they were OK,” Dickey said.

“It’s just absolutely awful,” she said. “I’ve lived here 67 years and nothing like this has ever happened.”

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