WOBURN, Mass. -- Woburn police are still trying to determine what led to the deaths of a mother and daughter found inside their duplex Wednesday afternoon, the 12-year-old daughter stabbed to death.

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Gail Huff Reports On Murder Investigation

Joanne Presti, 34, and her daughter Alyssa, 12, were found dead in their Totman Drive duplex about 4 p.m. Another child, Sean, a 2-year-old boy, was found alive and unharmed in his crib. He was hospitalized and treated for dehydration.

NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that the child's father is a lifelong Woburn resident and former Boston Bruins hockey player named John Carter (pictured lowered right). He was not married to Presti and is not considered a suspect in his daughter's stabbing death.

Neighbors at the scene were devastated by the murders.

"Very nice girl -- sweetest girl. She went to school at Joyce, with my daughter. Very smart girl, loving. Very friendly, very nice," said neighbor Joanne Pacheco, describing Alyssa Presti, whose body was found upstairs in her bedroom, an obvious victim of murder. Her mother's body was found downstairs on the living room couch.

"It is not apparent what the cause of death is. She is in a position however, and her clothes are rumpled, and it's clearly a highly suspicious situation," said Middlesex County District Attorney Martha Coakley.

Joanne Presti's parents found their daughter after a concerned neighbor called them to say no one had seen the family outside for several days. The victim's were last seen alive Sunday. The grandparents found toddler Sean in his crib. An older brother wasn't home.

Neighbors said the single mother of three doted on her children.

"She was always involved with her kids and stuff, going to games and being there for them," said one neighbor.

"They get along well, caring loving family. It's just a complete shock," said Pacheco.

Autopsies are being conducted Thursday and counselors will be on hand at Alyssa Presti's school, to help console her classmates.