PICTURED: Family of five - including three children - found dead in $2million lakeside Minnesota mansion following apparent murder-suicide

• The bodies of Brian Short, 45, his wife Karen, 48, and their three children, Cole, 17, Madison, 15, and Brooklyn, 14, were discovered on Thursday 
• Police made the grim find during a welfare check at the family's Lake Minnetonka home 
• The children hadn't shown up at school all week and the family had not been seen for days    
• Authorities are yet to reveal who they believe is behind the killing
• Police Chief Mike Siitari said it was an extremely gruesome scene 

A family of five have been found shot dead following an apparent murder-suicide inside their $2million lakeside mansion.

The bodies of homeowners Brian, 45, and Karen Short, 48, and their three children - Cole, 17, Madison, 15, and Brooklyn, 14 - were reportedly discovered in their home at Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota, on Thursday.

Police have not officially revealed the names of the deceased, but a statement on the website of Mr Short's company, AllNurses.com, confirmed he and his family had been killed.

An unidentified spokesperson for the firm wrote: 'It is with great regret and a very heavy heart that I have to share some very sad news with you. There is no easy way to say this. We just found out this afternoon that Brian and his family have passed away.' 

Authorities have not revealed who they believe is responsible for the deaths and say they are still investigating the scene. 

Brian and Karen Short with their daughters Brooklyn, 14 (front left), Madison, 15 (front right), and son Cole, 17, in a photo posted on Facebook

Brooklyn (left), her older sister Madison (right) and their brother Cole had reportedly not shown up to school all week, prompting a welfare check on their home,

Cole, 17, in a Facebook photo with a pet dog. The three siblings and their parents were found dead in their home

Brian Short (pictured with his wife Karen and in a professional photo) set up AllNurses - a networking website for nurses across the world

South Lake Minnetonka Police Chief Mike Siitari said that police were called to the home on Thursday morning when no one was seen or heard from for several days and the children had not shown up for school this week.  

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that after securing a dog on the scene, police found each of the bodies which were all located in different areas of the home. 

The first body discovered by police was found in a bedroom soon after they entered the home.

Another body was found in a lower-level bedroom, one in the garage and two in the basement.

The bodies remained in the house several hours after police arrived. 

'This is a complex crime scene that will take several days to sort through,' said Siitari. 'There’s no words to describe it. It’s a tragedy.'

He said it was the most gruesome scene he had seen during his three decades on the job. 'This is a tough one to handle,' he added.

The family (pictured) were found dead on Thursday in different rooms of their luxury home

The mansion where the bodies were found was bought for just over $2million four years ago according to Zillow. It had five bedrooms, three bathrooms and an eight-car garage

Brooklyn (left) and Madison (right) in a photo taken a few years ago. They were 14 and 15 when they died

Police arrived at the home around midday on Thursday (pictured) following a welfare check on the family

After securing a dog at the house, police found each of the bodies in different areas of the home (pictured left)

THURSDAY'S STATEMENT FROM BRIAN SHORT'S COMPANY ALLNURSES.COM

It is with great regret and a very heavy heart that I have to share some very sad news with you. There is no easy way to say this. 
We just found out this afternoon that Brian and his family have passed away. The news is calling it an apparent murder-suicide, but this has not been verified by the authorities and details have not yet been released.
No matter what the details are, the results are still the same…..a very tragic loss for the extended families, friends, co-workers, and this nursing community.
Please use this thread to post you comments of condolence and gratitude for Brian who created this wonderful nursing community that has benefitted so many.
Out of respect for Brian and his extended family with which these comments will be shared, keep your comment positive and uplifting. All inappropriate comments will be moved. 

Aerial footage showed an upscale home in Greenwood, a tiny village of just a few hundred people on the shores of Lake Minnetonka, about 20 miles west of Minneapolis.

The home was bought for just over $2million four years ago according to Zillow, and had five bedrooms, three bathrooms and an eight-car garage. 

Jodie Gorence, a former neighbor of the family, told CBS Minnesota: They were never showy. They were down-to-earth people. Wealthy people who were down to earth. 

'Whatever the reason is. I hope they’re in a better place right now.'

Dave Smits said he was worried when Mr Short didn't respond to him on Facebook, as he was normally very 'techy'. 

When he finally heard the news, he said he fell down on one knee in disbelief.  

After news of the deaths broke, Greenwood Mayor Debra Kind said: 'I hope that people who have suicidal thoughts get help, because this is a tragedy that is not necessary.'

Short was the founder of AllNurses.com, which describes itself as the 'largest peer to peer' nursing website in the world. 

Last year Short told the Star Tribune that he wanted to keep working despite receiving numerous offers from people wanting to buy the website. 'I’ve been offered 50 buyouts in the last 10 years. I’ve turned them all down,' he said. 

'I have so many ideas that I want to enable. At some point maybe I’ll sell — I have no interest in that now. I get a lot of satisfaction knowing that I’ve had an impact on nursing. It’s a very fulfilling career.' 

He reported $1million in annual revenue and 3million unique visitors per month in a 2012 interview with Business Journal. 

This interior photograph of the mansion's kitchen was taken before the Short family moved in four years ago

The home features a luxury living area with floor-to-ceiling windows looking over the lake