HOUSTON – The Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a welfare check led to a gruesome discovery of the bodies of two Houston fire officials in a home in Rosharon where a child was also found unhurt, officials said Friday.
A relative requested a welfare check from the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office at about 1:19 p.m. Friday after not hearing from their loved one since Thursday night, officials said.
Deputies responded to the home, located in the 12000 block of Rio Nueces Lane, but got no response when they knocked on the door.
The deputies heard a child crying inside the house and out of concern for the child, forced their way into the house. Inside, they found the bodies of a man and woman. A toddler was found in the home, unhurt.
Family members told KPRC 2 that the woman was 25-year-old Briana Warren and the man was Joe Robinson, who was a captain with the Houston Fire Department. They said that Warren and Robinson had a 1-year-old child together, Jalen, who was found in the home Friday.
“We received a cryptic message from her phone, I knew it wasn’t the way she text. I sent someone over here and this is the result," said Brandie Warren. "My sister’s dead. I’m burying my best friend.”
Officials said they didn’t know how Robinson and Warren died but did say a weapon was found at the scene.
Their bodies will be transported to the Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine cause and manner of death, officials said.
The home was secure and did not appear to have been broken into, officials said.
The Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association issued a statement Friday evening:
“Houston firefighters are stunned by the deaths of Joe Robinson and Briana Warren. We extend condolences to their families and friends and to the B-shift crew at HFD Station 48. Joe served the city for more than 15 years before this tragedy. This is a terribly sad, but urgent reminder that we should watch out for and take care of our family members and friends in distress. Whether for line-of-duty behavioral health issues or other life challenges, help is available – no matter what. Please keep the Robinson and Warren families and everyone affected by their tragic deaths in your thoughts and prayers.”