Apr 19, 2009 12:59 am US/Eastern
Md. Father Kills Wife, Kids Before Taking Own Life
Police: 3 Children, Mother Died Of 'Traumatic Cuts'; Father Shot Self
MIDDLETOWN, Md. (CBS) ―
-
-
Investigators in Middleton, Md., said a 34-year-old man killed his chidren and wife before fatally shooting himself. Their bodies were found in by the wife's father, according to police.
CBS
-
-
A family of five were found dead inside their Middletown, Md., home on April 18, 2009.
CBS
An accountant for a railroad operator killed his wife and their three children before fatally shooting himself in a northwest Maryland home, leaving a gruesome scene that was discovered Saturday by the youngsters' grandfather, authorities said.
Police are calling it the worst crime this area has seen in decades, reports CBS station WJZ-TV in Baltimore.
"In my entire career, which is about 20 years, this is the worst tragedy I've ever seen in Frederick County," said Sheriff Charles Jenkins.
Christopher Alan Wood, 34, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Frederick County sheriff's office spokeswoman Jennifer Bailey said. His wife Francis Billotti Wood, 33, and their three children suffered "traumatic cuts," but the causes of their deaths weren't immediately confirmed.
Two boys ages 5 and 4 were found in their beds, and a 2-year-old girl was found with the mother in the master bedroom. The father's body lay on the floor at the foot of the bed in the master bedroom.
"It appears that Mr. Wood killed the members of his family and then killed himself," Bailey said. "We have not determined the cause of death of the other victims."
Jenkins says the victims each suffered at least one gunshot wound from a handgun in addition to the stab wounds.
The woman's father found them dead around 9 a.m. He had grown concerned after not hearing from them for several days, Bailey said.
Investigators also found a shotgun and other items they believed were used to cut the victims. Other weapons were also found. Several notes were found. Jenkins says Wood wrote five notes to family members and in one note said he was sorry. He says Wood was employed but that there was some evidence of financial troubles and psychiatric problems.
Peggy Lawrence, a neighbor, said the family had moved into the neighborhood several months ago and Francis Wood had grown up in the area. Lawrence described Francis Wood as a good homemaker.
"It wouldn't lead you to believe anything was wrong," Lawrence said. "I'm still sick to my stomach. Just to see it end so quickly is so devastating and makes you realize you never know what's going on in people's lives."
Wood worked for CSX, which did not return a call for comment.
The family had moved months ago to the home in the town of Middletown, a community of less than 3,000 people about 10 miles west of Frederick, friends said.
"We're all in shock and trying to come to terms," said Kevin Farmer, the pastor of Holy Family Catholic Community Church, where the mother taught catechism.
The director of Middletown United Methodist Church Preschool, Jane Durant, said she last saw Francis Wood on Thursday morning, when she picked up her 4-year-old son at the school.
The boy didn't come to school the next day. Durant, the school's director, thought it was unusual. Now, she wonders if something horrible happened Thursday night.
Durant said Francis Wood -- whom she called "Francie" -- returned to her native Middletown from Texas last year to be closer to her family. She described Francis Wood as a vibrant, bubbly and loving person.
"I just talked to her every day and she's just one of those people you fell in love with right away," Durant said.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Jewish Celebrities
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
