Apr 19, 2009 8:12 am US/Eastern
Couple, 3 Kids Found Dead In Frederick Co. Home
MIDDLETOWN, Md. (WJZ/AP) ―
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A Frederick County grandfather discovered his daughter, her husband and his three young grandchildren murdered after breaking down the door of their home.
CBS
A Frederick County grandfather discovered his daughter, her husband and his three young grandchildren murdered after breaking down the door of their home.
As Suzanne Collins reports, police say the father killed his entire family before shooting himself.
The husband, Christopher Wood, may have had psychological problems and debts.
The family had moved months ago to the home in Middletown, a community of fewer than 3,000 people about 10 miles west of Frederick, friends said.
Now, the entire community is grieving. Wood, his wife Francis Billotti Wood, and their children, four- and five-year-old sons and a two-year-old daughter, were found dead.
"There is evidence of lacerations and stab wounds and we also determined there were gunshot wounds," said Sheriff Chuck Jenkins.
There were at least five suicide notes left inside the home. According to Jenkins, the notes mentioned a drug Wood was using that is normally taken for mental health problems. He says Wood apologized for what he was doing. There was also an indication of financial problems.
Wood was an accountant at railroad operator, CSX Corp.
The home -- decorated with pretty flowers and filled with toys -- didn't appear to be an unhappy place, according to neighbors.
"You would see dad outside playing with his kids in the backyard with the dog, so you're assuming this is a happy family," said neighbor Shannon Pulsipher.
Billotti Wood's father broke down the door at 9 a.m. Saturday when he hadn't heard from the family for a whole day. What he saw was horrifying and shocked police and neighbors.
"I'm still sick to my stomach. I've been sick to my stomach all day," said neighbor Peggy Lawrence.
The two boys were found in their beds. The two-year-old was in bed with her mother. All were shot with a pistol. Police say Wood killed himself with a shotgun.
Their priest says it's shocking.
"This family, while they haven't been with us very long, they are an integral part of the community and it's a terrible, terrible human loss," said Father Kevin Farmer, Holy Family Catholic Community Church.
The family had lived in Florida until just four months ago when they moved back to Frederick County, where Francis had grown up and where her parents still live.
Deputies interviewed more than 50 family members, friends and neighbors Saturday to try to understand the motivation for the killings.
There are church services scheduled for Sunday morning at a Middletown church, which the woman's parents founded.
Those services are scheduled for Sunday morning at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. at the Holy Family Catholic Community on Burkittsville Road in Middletown.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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