A Mt. Lebanon woman who was found dead along with her 10-year-old daughter Friday in South Park was involved in divorce proceedings and a custody dispute.

Serena Keona Guan, 43, and Abigail Neal, 10, were found inside a car at a South Park grove after Mt. Lebanon police were contacted by a man asking for a welfare check on the woman and child.

The bodies were found about 7:20 p.m. at Diana Grove, Allegheny County Police said. According to a news release, there were no obvious signs of trauma to either person.

Investigators said they do not believe there is any threat to the public and that, as of this time, no one else appears to be involved.

Cause and manner of death have not yet been determined by the medical examiner’s office. Typically, toxicology results can take weeks.

Mt. Lebanon School District officials confirmed Saturday that Abigail had been enrolled in fourth grade at Howe Elementary School. The last day of school was Friday.

According to Allegheny County family court records, Christopher Charles Neal filed for divorce from Guan on March 8. Records show he also filed a complaint for custody. On Thursday, the court entered an order scheduling a custody conciliation for Sept. 26.

In the meantime, the docket shows that, on May 28, the court entered an interim order giving Neal custody of Abigail every other weekend and from Wednesdays after school to Thursday mornings.

The custody arrangement was scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. Friday.

Neal, a volunteer firefighter in Mt. Lebanon, declined to comment Saturday.

Mt. Lebanon fire Chief Nick Sohyda said the department is devastated by the loss of Neal’s wife and daughter.

“Our goal is to support Chris with anything he might need.”

Sohyda said that Neal is a retired U.S. Marine helicopter pilot originally from California.

“He came here because he wanted to be close to his daughter,” the chief said. “We’re probably his only family right now that’s close.

“It’s heartbreaking.”

Paula Reed Ward is a TribLive reporter covering federal and Allegheny County courts. She joined the Trib in 2019 after spending nearly 17 years at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, where she was part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team. She is the author of “Death by Cyanide.” She can be reached at pward@triblive.com.