Harris County investigators are treating the northwest-area deaths as an apparent murder-suicide.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A 12-year-old girl called 911 late Thursday after finding her mother unresponsive inside a northwest Harris County home, where deputies later found the woman and the girl’s stepfather dead, authorities said.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said the case is being investigated as an apparent murder-suicide. The girl was found physically unharmed outside the home when deputies and emergency medical workers arrived. Authorities had not released the names of the adults or confirmed their causes of death by Friday.
The call came in around 11 p.m. Thursday from a home in the 12500 block of Baldwin Springs. Deputies said the child reported that her mother was “unresponsive.” When first responders arrived, they found the girl safe and then entered the residence. Inside, investigators found a woman dead in one part of the house and a man dead in a separate room. Officials said the woman was believed to be the girl’s biological mother and the man was believed to be her stepfather.
Investigators said no one else was found inside the home. A weapon was recovered at the scene, but officials did not immediately say what type of weapon it was. Deputies also said there were no clear signs of forced entry and no early evidence pointing to a third person being involved. Authorities said the family had lived at the home for some time, but they did not release details about prior calls to the address or possible past disputes.
The deaths remain under review by homicide investigators and the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. Officials are expected to confirm the adults’ identities and causes of death after family notifications and forensic exams. Deputies were also checking surveillance video and speaking with neighbors to determine when the violence occurred and whether anyone heard or saw anything before the 911 call.
The home sits in a residential area of northwest Harris County near the Tomball area. By early Friday, the investigation centered on the house and the people who lived there. Officials did not report any ongoing threat to nearby residents. The child’s placement after the deaths was not immediately disclosed, and authorities released no additional information about her condition beyond saying she was not physically injured.
The case stood as an active death investigation Friday. The sheriff’s office had not announced charges, named a suspect or released a final ruling, pending forensic findings and the completion of witness interviews.
Author note: Last updated June 26, 2026.