An 81-year-old Colorado man is in custody for allegedly killing his family members with an axe.

According to a media release from the Englewood Police Department (EPD), officers first learned of the incident on Saturday (March 25) when the man called to report that his wife and daughter were murdered.

The man, who police have identified as Reginald Maclaren, claimed he knew the suspect and believed his family had been killed with a hammer.

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Upon arrival at the scene, an apartment at 901 Englewood Pkwy., police found Maclaren inside. After further searching, they discovered two victims stuffed inside large trash cans.

"Both victims had substantial injuries and showed no signs of life," read the release.

EPD then called upon the Colorado Bureau of Investigation Crime Scene Unit and the Arapahoe County Coroner's Office to begin a homicide investigation, which revealed that both victims were killed with an axe, and one was dismembered with a saw.

The release stated that investigators believe Maclaren is responsible for the murders.

Maclaren is now in the Arapahoe County Jail on a first-degree murder charge and will appear in Arapahoe County District Court later this week.

9News reports that, according to an arrest affidavit from EPD, Maclaren told authorities he had recently lost his job and decided to kill his family to prevent them from becoming homeless — the affidavit states that he allegedly does not regret his actions as he thinks his family is "in a better place."

The station notes that the Arapahoe County Coroner's Office will officially identify the victims after notifying the next of kin.

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