Police: Nebraska man smothered his two children to death

Two children, ages 3 and 5, were found dead in their Nebraska home and now police say their father is responsible for smothering them to death.

In May, a family friend performed a welfare check at the family home and discovered the bodies of Emily Price, 5, and Theodore Price, 3, according to authorities.

The welfare check was being done at the request of the children’s mother, police said.

Officials said the Bellevue police previously went to the home, but there was nothing suspicious and did not speak to the father, Adam Price, 36, according to media reports.

However, when Mary Nielsen, the children’s mother, could not get in touch with the children by phone, she became alarmed and asked a family friend to check in on them, KETV reported.

Nielsen and Price are divorced, with Nielsen lives in Illinois, police said. They share custody of the children, but each parent has to have daily contact with the children when they are with the other parent, officials said.

Authorities said Price was arrested in California just hours after the children’s bodies were found.

He was initially charged with felony child abuse resulting in death and his bond was set at $2.5 million, officials said. However, autopsy results stated the children died from asphyxiation as a result of smothering, authorities said.

“Based upon new information that we have in the case, specifically the autopsy results, we’ve upgraded or asked the court to amend those charges to first-degree murder two counts,” Chief Deputy Sarpy County Attorney Bonnie Moore said, and KETV reported.