Pennsylvania man accused of killing eight peopleincluding his pregnant daughter, “exercised significant control” over his family in their Erie home, which was described as “extremely filthy” by authorities during a news conference detailing the investigation into last week’s mass shooting.
“There are still questions we can’t answer, including why this happened, but what we have been able to establish is a much clearer picture of the events of Friday, October 9,” Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah said Thursday.
Matthew Stone Sr.45, is accused of murdering his wife, Michelle Stone, 44; his pregnant daughter, Angelina Stone, 24; his sons Jonathan Stone, 19, and Matthew Stone, 21; and two children aged 1 and 5. Two people who showed up at the Perry Street home, Lora Roberts, 37, and Twila Tanner, 51, were also killed.
The patriarch “controlled”
Lorah said relatives told investigators that the family patriarch, Matthew Stone Sr., had for years exerted “significant control” over his wife and their children and grandchildren. He controlled finances and limited when family members could leave the house, Lorah said.
When detectives entered the house after the shooting, they described the house as “extremely dirty.”
“The shower, toilet and kitchen sink didn’t seem to work,” Lorah said. “Many 2 liter bottles were filled with urine throughout the house.”
In 2019, authorities said Matthew Stone Sr. was charged in a domestic violence incident involving his wife. A gun, the same .40-caliber handgun that was used in Friday’s mass shooting, was involved, Lorah said. The charges were dropped, however, after Michelle Stone changed her statement during a preliminary hearing, the police chief said.
Lorah said family members raised concerns about Matthew Stone Sr.’s mental health, possible physical health issues and suspected drug abuse, including methamphetamine. Investigators found no medical records confirming a mental health diagnosis, but drug paraphernalia was found inside the home, although Lorah said it was unclear what role drugs played in the shooting.
Her pregnant daughter was planning to leave
Angelina Stone had expressed concerns about her father’s well-being, Lorah said, and last year she tried to change her last name because she wanted to pursue a career in medicine.
“Most recently, Angelina sent messages indicating that she was planning to move out of the family home after giving birth,” Lorah said. “In these messages, she stated that her father was kicking her and her brothers out of the residence. She also reported that he had been physically abusive towards her brothers.”
When detectives searched the house after the shooting, the police chief said they found belongings packed in bags and boxes in his bedroom.
Filming timeline
On the afternoon of the shooting, shortly after 4:39 p.m., the police chief said Angelina Stone called her aunt, Lora Roberts, on Facebook Messenger and spoke to her for about two minutes. At the end of that call, the chief said Roberts, who was Michelle Stone’s sister, said she was on her way.
Ten minutes later, police said Roberts and Tanner arrived outside.
Just three minutes later, the city’s ShotSpotter system detected gunshots.
Between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., authorities said SWAT and hostage negotiation teams were notified, and shortly after 7 p.m., officers forced open the front door, which had been partially barricaded.
Police said officers discovered the bodies of two young children on the first floor, followed by Angelina Stone in the stairwell, then Michelle Stone and the couple’s two sons, Jonathan Stone and Matthew Stone. Matthew Stone Sr. was found on the second floor with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, investigators said.
Lorah said with everything investigators know, there are still unanswered questions.
“What we can’t say for sure is what happened inside the home between those communications and the shooting or what caused Matthew Stone Sr. to take these actions,” Lorah said. “These are important limitations to what this investigation can tell us. We recognize that the community was looking for answers. We worked to establish the facts as carefully and thoroughly as possible and we wanted to share these findings so that people have a clear understanding of what happened.”
The city of Erie seeks to heal
At the news conference, Erie Mayor Daria Devlin questioned whether the city could have done anything to prevent the shooting.
“Were there any opportunities to recognize that this family was in trouble?” » asked Devlin. “Are there places where our systems could have reacted differently? And how can we ensure that other families in our community who are hurting or struggling don’t fall through the cracks?
Devlin said she has started conversations with health care leaders and community organizations about supporting families facing domestic violence and isolation. The city will now focus on helping the Perry Street neighborhood recover.
“We can’t change what happened Friday. But we can honor those we’ve lost through the care we give to those who are grieving, the questions we’re willing to ask and the changes we make moving forward,” Devlin said. “We are here with you and we will continue to work to make Erie a place where every family is seen, supported and safe.”
Gn usa
