The man who killed his ex-wife and five of her relatives in a killing spree earlier this week was found dead in the woods near Pennsburg, Pennsylvania on Tuesday.
Bradley William Stone, 35, died from a self-inflicted wound, authorities say. Police, who had been searching for the ex-Marine for two days, found his body just a half-mile from his home. Officials are waiting for a coroner to determine the cause of death, but police say Stone cut himself in the center of his body.
From CBS:
His former wife, 33-year-old Nicole Stone, was found dead after a neighbor saw Stone fleeing just before 5 a.m. Monday with their two young daughters. The girls were later found safe with Stone’s neighbors.
Police then made the grim discovery of five people killed in two other houses.
Nicole Stone’s sister, Patricia Flick, her sister’s husband, Aaron Flick, and the couple’s 14-year-old daughter, Nina Flick, were killed in the first wave of violence, which was not discovered until nearly 8 a.m. Their 17-year-old son, Anthony Flick, was pulled from the house with a head wound and was taken in an armored vehicle and then by helicopter to a Philadelphia hospital for treatment.
Nicole Stone’s mother, Joanne Hill, and grandmother Patricia Hill were killed next at their home in nearby Lansdale.
Anthony Flick suffered “quite significant cutting injuries” to his hands and head, and was in very serious but stable condition, Ferman said. Some of the boy’s wounds appeared to be defensive, indicating that he attempted to fight off his attacker, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman.
“I can’t emphasize enough how serious his condition is, but at this point, we are hoping he will be fine,” Ferman said earlier Tuesday.
“Clearly, we are looking at premeditated killings – planned killings, intentional, deliberate killings,” Ferman said.
Police are searching for a motive, but it appears Stone and his ex-wife were battling in court over child custody. Stone made an effort to secure emergency custody of his children just last week, but was denied.
“There’s no excuse for snuffing out these six innocent lives and injuring another child,” Ferman said, adding that the normally peaceful community has been “shattered” by the events.
An investigation into the killings continues.
SOURCE: CBS | VIDEO SOURCE: News Inc.
