A 44-year-old Florida father shot his 5-year-old son to death and then killed himself rather than return the child to his mother for the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said the boy’s mother contacted them and said she was unable to reach her son or his father when she arrived at the father’s home in Lutz at about 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Deputies found “no immediate signs of concern” although the father’s vehicle was in the driveway.

The mother entered the home herself just before 10 a.m. — about two hours after deputies left the first time — and found the bodies.

Deputies returned to the scene 15 minutes later and confirmed the deaths.

“This is a horrible, horrible scene,” said Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer, according to WPEC. “Not only for the mother and the family of that child as they have to go through the holiday season knowing that they’re missing this family member, but it’s also a horrible scene for the deputies that responded here today.”

Maurer didn’t say why deputies didn’t enter the home themselves and left that to the now distraught mother.

Detectives have found no notes inside the home but have several electronic devices to go through.

He said the parents had been separated for about a year.

A victim specialist has been assigned to work with the family.

No names were released.

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[Featured image: Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office]