Hope Marie West and Harmony Mae West. GoFundMe

MECHANIC FALLS — A GoFundMe page has been set up to pay for the funeral expenses for the two young victims whose bodies were discovered Saturday in their apartment following a welfare check.

The two youngsters, Harmony Mae West, 11, and Hope Marie West, who would have turned 7 on July 27, were both students at Elm Street School. The cause of deaths and the identity of a third body discovered at the home, believed to be their mother, has not been released by state officials.

As of 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, $5,503 has been raised of the $10,000 goal to pay for the girls’ funeral expenses.

The GoFundMe page was set up and is managed by the girls’ great uncle Dan Parrott, who lives in Nevada, at the request of his sister and the girls’ paternal grandmother from Lewiston. All funds will go directly to the family to cover funeral expenses.

At about 4 p.m. Saturday, the Mechanic Falls Police Department requested the assistance of the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South after the discovery of three dead people at a residence at 5 Highland Ave., according to Shannon Moss, spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

Detectives and evidence response technicians responded and spent the evening and overnight hours processing the scene.

The three bodies were taken to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where autopsies were to be performed to determine the cause and manner of death and positively identify the three bodies.

“Their passing is a tragedy to all that knew and loved them. As the death of any child is something that no one ever plans for, this has left the family of these two girls in dire need of funds to pay for the funeral and other related expenses,” said the information that accompanied the request for money on the GoFundMe page.

“Harmony and Hope were born in Lewiston and most recently lived in Mechanic Falls. Both attended Elm Street School. Harmony and Hope were the best of friends, and we are grateful they had each other in the challenges they faced in their young lives. Our hearts have been shattered by the tragedy of their passing. Any assistance to relieve the financial burden of this loss and honor the lives of Harmony and Hope will be very much appreciated.”

According to neighbors, the three lived in a second-story apartment in the front of a multi-unit building at the corner of Elm Street and Highland Avenue. The neighbors added that they had not seen the girls playing outside for a few weeks.