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Police discovered a horrific scene in the basement of a house after a young child sounded the horn of a car parked outside for several hours. ‌

Concerned locals in the town of Vinton, Iowa, had called emergency services after hearing other unusual noises from the property, including "popping" and hammering. ‌

The boy, aged six, told officers and a social worker when they arrived at 9pm that his mother had gone inside a few hours before, but had not returned. ‌

His grandparents were called, and waited with him at a neighbour's house while police investigated . Such incidents were rare in the quiet farming community.

The house was cordoned off, and neighbours told to go inside and turn off their lights, out of fear there may have been an active gunman in the

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