SAN MATEO, CA – A disturbing discovery was made in a San Mateo suburban home last Monday when a family of four was found lifeless in what investigators are describing as a murder-suicide.
Former Meta engineer Anand Sujith Henry, 37 years old, was identified as the apparent murderer. His wife, Alice Benzinger, 38, was found fatally shot in a bathtub, while their twin boys, Noah and Neithan, aged four, were found deceased in a bedroom. Henry is believed to have subsequently shot himself, although the cause of the twins’ deaths remains uncertain. Authorities suggest that the cause was possibly either smothering, strangling, or lethal dosing due to a lack of evident bodily trauma.
San Mateo Police were alerted to investigate the 4100 block of Alameda de las Pulgas around 9:15 a.m for a welfare check. Upon arriving, they received no response and discovered no signs of forced entry into the home. Gaining access through an unlocked window, officers found the horrific scene inside, along with a 9mm pistol and a loaded magazine in the bathroom.
San Mateo Police have confirmed their belief that this was an isolated incident, with the responsible party found within the home, thus mitigating public safety concerns.
It remains unknown who prompted the welfare check, although reports suggest the grandmother of the deceased children, having failed to contact the family, may be linked.
The shocking incident has significantly impacted the ordinarily peaceful neighborhood. Lifelong resident Matthew Sheldon expressed his dismay, noting the rarity of deaths in the area.
Public records reveal that Henry had filed for divorce from Benzinger, a data science manager at Zillow, in 2016, but the procedure seems to have been halted. The family moved to their current San Mateo home in 2020, where they lived with their young twins.