A cause of death in the case of Colchester business owner Anthony Todt, who is charged with killing his wife and three children, will likely not be released for some time.

An employee at the Orange County Medical Examiner, which is handling the autopsies, said Friday that the cause of death for all four victims is pending the results of a toxicology study, which usually take 10 to 12 weeks. The deaths have been ruled homicides.

Police say Todt has confessed to killing his wife, Megan, their children, Alek, 13, Tyler, 11, Zoe, 4, and the family dog, Breezy. They were living in Florida at the time of the alleged crimes. Local police there said they had been dead since late December.

Todt is charged with four counts of premeditated murder and one count of animal cruelty. He also is being investigated for alleged health care fraud.