On July 27, 2022, Sonia Loja, 36, strangled her three children — Junior Panjon (12), Joselyn Panjon (10), and Jonael Panjon (5) — in their shared home on Whaley Street in Danbury, Connecticut, before hanging herself in a shed in the backyard. Their father, Pedro Panjon, had left for work at approximately 6 a.m. that morning. When he was unable to reach his wife by phone, he requested a wellness check but arrived home before police, went inside, and discovered the children's bodies with cords around their necks, after which he called 911 and collapsed in the yard. Loja had been running an illegal daycare from the home and had told daycare parents not to bring their children that day, indicating premeditation. She had been cited approximately one month before the killings for operating the unlicensed daycare and had recently received a 'Demand to Cease' letter.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Both documents describe inflicted injury by strangulation. The news article states: "preliminary findings indicate that Ms. Loja strangled her three children before killing herself." The CT Family Violence report confirms for incidents 9-11 that the weapons used were "Rope" and "Hands/Fist/Feet," and the narrative states: "The suspect strangled her three children before she hanged herself." The husband also "found the bodies of the victims with cords around their necks."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Both documents explicitly identify this as a murder-suicide. The news article headline reads "Connecticut mom killed her 3 kids before taking own life" and describes Loja being "found dead from suspected asphyxia by hanging in a shed." The CT Family Violence report marks incidents 9-11 with an asterisk denoting "Murder-Suicide" and states "Suspect Suicide: Female, 36." The report also notes that this was one of eight murder-suicide incidents in 2022 and the only one involving rope rather than a firearm.
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The biological mother, Sonia Loja, is identified as the perpetrator. The news article states: "preliminary findings indicate that Ms. Loja strangled her three children before killing herself." The CT Family Violence report lists the offender for incidents 9-11 as a 36-year-old female with relationship listed as "Other relative residing in home: Son" and "Other relative residing in home: Daughter," and the narrative confirms "The suspect strangled her three children."
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the text. First, there is strong evidence of premeditation: the news article reports that Loja "had told parents of the kids she took care of not to drop them off on the day of the killings," and the CT report corroborates that she "told the parents of roughly 10 kids that she couldn't watch them the day of the incident." Second, the CT report notes a potential stressor: "The suspect was cited a month before the murder-suicide for operating the illegal day-care and had recently received a 'Demand to Cease' letter." This regulatory action against her unlicensed daycare business occurred shortly before the killings and may have been a contributing factor. Third, the husband discovered the bodies before police could arrive for the wellness check he himself requested, finding "the bodies of the victims with cords around their necks."
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