A couple from Utah had drugged themselves and their three children to death over fears of a pending apocalypse, police said Tuesday.

Couple Benjamin and Kristi Strack and their three children aged 11, 12 and14, were found dead in their home, south of Salt Lake City, in September.   All five were found tucked in bed.

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The bodies were discovered by the couple's surviving son and his grandmother.

"It was a fairly common theme for the parents to talk about, the apocalypse, the end of days, final judgment," said Springville Police Department detective Greg Turnbow.

Turnbow, who was handling the case, said they have concluded the probe.

In a press conference, Turnbow released results of the probe, including reports from a medical examiner.

Police said heroin was found in the body of Benjamin Strack while others were overdosed with methadone and over-the-counter medication.  They said there were no signs of struggle.

The parents' deaths were ruled suicide, while the children ages 11 and 12 were ruled homicides. 

The manner of death of the 14-year old Benson Strack remains undetermined.

The only surviving son, Kristi Strack's son from a previous marriage, recalled his mother saying that "if things got bad, she would rather take herself out and her family in a comfortable way, rather than a painful way."

Turnbow revealed, Benson left a goodbye note saying he was aware of his "possible impending doom."  He even left some of his belongings to his best friend. 

Items recovered from the Strack's home include empty bottles of liquid methadone, and 10 opened and empty packets of nighttime cold and flu medicines. 

Police also found old letters written by Kristi Strack to Dan Lafferty, a Utah inmate serving a life sentence for killing family members in the name of God.

Benjamin Strack's brother Jacob said the results of the probe didn't surprise the family, who had already seen troubling signs of the couple's mental state.

Court records also showed Benjamin and Kristi Strack had a history of legal and financial problems.  They event went through court-ordered drug treatment several years ago.

TagsUtah, apocalypse, homicide