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Eight people were murdered in an Erie, Pa., home, including the gunman’s wife, adult children, two young grandchildren and two women who came to help. His pregnant daughter’s unborn baby also died
Family members say Angelina, who was due to give birth to her third child in a few days, had plans to leave her father’s controlling grip after the birth
Shortly before the massacre, Angelina called her aunt for help. The aunt and a friend rushed to the home, where they were also killed, police said
Before killing eight people in an Erie, Pa., massacre, Matthew Stone Sr. spent years controlling and isolating his wife, children and grandchildren, according to relatives who described the family’s increasingly troubling living conditions to police.
The nine victims of the Friday, Oct. 9 shooting have been identified as the shooter’s wife, Michelle Stone, 44; her daughter Angelina Stone, 24, and sons Jonathan Stone, 19 and Matthew Stone, 21; grandchildren one-year-old Amari’anna Stone and 5-year-old Isiah Hudges; Michelle’s sister 37-year-old Lora Roberts and 51-year-old Twila Tanner and Angelina’s unborn baby Kyrie Stone.
Matthew Stone Sr., 45, turned the gun on himself after killing the family.
Relatives described years of abuse and isolation allegedly inflicted by Matthew Sr. on his wife and children, Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah said at a press briefing on Thursday, Oct. 15.
“Family members describe a household in which Matthew Stone Sr. exercised significant control of his wife Michelle, their children and grandchildren,” Lorah said, adding that he controlled the family’s finances.
“[He] restricted when family members could leave the residence and spend time with relatives,” he said. Family members told police that after Michelle became pregnant with her first child, Matthew Sr. became increasingly controlling.
Over time, Michelle stopped having contact with friends and had limited contact with extended family. Domestic charges against Matthew Sr. were dropped after Michelle changed her statement at a preliminary hearing, Lorah said.
Lora Roberts (left); and Michelle Marie Stone.
Credit: Burton Quinn-Scott Cremation & Funeral Services; Askins Cremation Funeral Services
Investigators also found the Stones’ home in an “extremely filthy” state, Lorah said, including “numerous 2-liter bottles filled with urine” throughout the house.
The home’s shower, toilet and kitchen sinks appeared to be unusable, despite the property having access to running water. The household also had an outstanding water bill of approximately $1,900.
Angelina, who was due to give birth just three days after the massacre, had reportedly told others she was waiting to leave her father after giving birth, Lorah said. She had also claimed her father had abused her brothers.
Amari’anna and Isiah Stone.
Credit: Facebook
The investigation began after police responded to a report of a shooting at the residence, and found two women deceased outside the house. Witnesses said the women had “arrived at the residence, appeared distressed, and sought help from neighbors,” Erie police previously said.
Lorah said on Thursday that fewer than 30 minutes before police responded to the residence, Angelina had called Roberts on Facebook video and Roberts rushed to the residence. Roberts told a family member that Angelina needed help.
Roberts and Tanner came to the residence and, police believe, were shot after Matthew Sr. killed his family.
Police entered the residence at 7:12 p.m., and found the bodies across the house.
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While the Associated Press previously cited a coroner’s report that Angelina’s due date was Monday, family members brought stuffed animals, candles and balloons to a memorial for baby Kyrie on Wednesday, which they said was his projected due date, You Erie reported.
At the vigil, Tanner’s daughter told the outlet her mother was “a sweet woman. Caring. She helped anybody.”
“She wanted to go help a family friend, and she lost her life in the middle of trying to help somebody else that she loved and cared about,” Aniecia Al-Amiri said.
A GoFundMe has been set up to assist with Angelina and her children’s funeral expenses.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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