Family Of Five Dead In Murder Suicide

Updated: Sunday, 19 Apr 2009, 10:39 AM EDT
Published : Sunday, 19 Apr 2009, 10:39 AM EDT

By SHERRI LY, MyFox DC

A Maryland mother and her three children stabbed and shot in their own home. All dead. The Frederick County Sheriff says the killer is the husband and father who then took his own life. Christopher Wood left five suicide notes around the house, describing what the Sheriff called his final thoughts before killing his wife, three children and then himself. In one of the notes the Sheriff says he apologized. "It's the worst most horrific thing I've ever seen," said Sheriff Chuck Jenkins.

Inside the Middletown home at 13 Washington Street was a scene no one should witness. The two boys, 5 and 4 years old, were killed in their beds. Their mother, Francis Bilotti Wood, and their 2-year-old daughter were found in the bed of the master bedroom and their father Christopher Wood on the floor with a self inflicted gunshot wound, the shotgun near his body.

"It's upsetting. I'm still sick to my stomach. I've been sick to my stomach all day," said neighbor Peggy Lawrence.

The wife's father went to the house around 9:00 Saturday morning after failing to reach the family for hours when he made the discovery. "They seemed like such a great great family," neighbor Kimberly Bowers said. Her son and the Wood family's oldest son went to school together. Today she described herself still "in total shock and disbelief."

The Sheriff says the wife and children had laceration and stab wounds. Each was also shot at least once with a .25 caliber pistol later found in the kitchen. The five suicide notes left by Wood offered clues.

"One of the notes there was indication of some psychological problems...there was some mention of some medication, I can't mention whether he was on or off," Sheriff Chuck Jenkins said.

Detectives say the family had some financial problems but what role it played is still under investigation.

"This is a loss of an entire family," said Father Kevin Farmer from Holy Family Catholic Community Church, which the family attended. Francis wood taught Sunday school there. Today the church paused in prayer during services. Father Farmer called the wife and mother a special person. He said they were "a young vibrant family, with young kids, lots of excitement and lots of hope."

An autopsy will determine the determine the exact cause of death. The sheriff says the .25 caliber pistol used on the mother and three children isn't very loud and it's unlikely neighbors heard the shots."

It's still unclear when everyone died. Neighbors last saw the children playing outside Friday night. Investigators are looking into a report, of two gunshots heard from the house Saturday morning, possibly from the shotgun the father used to commit suicide.

From: http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/dpg_Maryland_Murder_Suicide_SAB_041920092422023