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6 bodies found in Porter Ranch home
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More from Breaking NewsPORTER RANCH -- An unemployed accounting industry worker who was despondent over financial problems shot and killed his wife, three children, mother-in-law and then himself in an upscale home in a gated community, police said Monday.
The bodies were found by officers making a welfare check Monday morning when the wife failed to show up at a neighbor's home to go to work, Deputy Chief Michel Moore said.
Officers entering the large, modern home in the San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Porter Ranch found the older woman shot to death in bed, he said. The other bodies were found throughout the house but not in bed.
The family members' names were not immediately released because police wanted to make sure schools attended by the slain children had time to make grief counselors available.
The children were ages 19, 12 and 7, the wife was 43 and the mother-in-law was 70. The father was 45.
Investigators found envelopes containing a suicide note to police, another to friends and relatives and a will.
The father had a masters of business administration in finance, formerly worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers and Sony Pictures, but had been unemployed for several months, Moore said.
Moore did not specify what financial trouble the man had been in. He noted that the family did not own the home.
In the suicide letters, "he attests to some financial difficulties, takes responsibility for the taking of the lives of his family members and himself as a result of those financial difficulties," Moore said. "We believe that he has become despondent recently over financial dealings and the financial situation of his household."
The killings happened sometime after 6 p.m. Saturday, Moore said.
The gated community, called Sorrento Pointe, is among several developments along curving lanes and cul-de-sacs set on the foothills of the Santa Susana Mountains in Porter Ranch, about 23 miles northwest of downtown.
Ryan Ransdell, who lives across the street from the house, said it had been occupied by the family for about a year.
"They didn't socialize too much," he said. "They kept pretty much to themselves."
Ransdell said he didn't hear any gunshots on Saturday night.
Associated Press Writer Jacob Adelman contributed to this report.
Posted by whatever on October 6, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,4...
Posted by suescott71 on October 6, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The mother-in -law was 70, mom was 39 and 3 boys, 19, 12 and 7. Very sad.
Posted by justmeinsp on October 6, 2008 at 1:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
way too sad to think that someone thought this was the only solution they had for any issues they were having, whatever the issues were. it's always extra sad when it involves children. their chance at a life is gone, because someone else couldn't handle their own...
Posted by smithjc on October 6, 2008 at 2:16 p.m.
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Posted by hotwildflower on October 6, 2008 at 2:16 p.m.
(This thread was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by mauid2005 on October 6, 2008 at 2:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
According FOX News, it was the father/husband who killed the family and then himself due to financial problems. This is a very sad and tragic story that I fear we will be hearing more and more of. I do agree with earlier posters - kill yourself, not others - ESPECIALLY children.
Posted by hotwildflower on October 6, 2008 at 2:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's a sad day when a person thinks money is more important than their life and loved ones.
Money will come and go, but the love of a family is forever.
Posted by lawabider on October 6, 2008 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
very, very sad, but unfortunately what will continue to happen in this now-third-world country of ours... men think that they are here to provide for their families... failing that, they often commit suicide (ref: Great Depression)... Money is not everything...
Posted by jdgab on October 6, 2008 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Star is so notoriously liberal, can we trust its reporting almost exactly the same thing that Fox did?
Posted by justmeinsp on October 6, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
jdgab: it doesn't matter if they're liberal or not... a whole family is dead
Posted by vcsexplorer11 on October 6, 2008 at 4:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't get it.
Its like the riots in LA, where people shot up their own neighborshoods when they were angry.
You think there would be bigger fish to fry then taking out your own.
Posted by Thinkbeforeyoupost on October 6, 2008 at 4:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JayRemE; If I remember correctly you have stated that you are a young man under 20? If so I would like to state that you seem very intuitive and bright for one so young!:)
Posted by Common_Sense on October 6, 2008 at 5:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
According to the LA times, the guy who did this was having financial problems. What a tragedy....
Posted by BeaHappi on October 6, 2008 at 7:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To think that he was so despondent that this seemed like a good idea to him. And this was a plan...as evidenced by the notes.
Tragic, very tragic.
My condolences to their family and friends.
Posted by SoCalArmyBrat on October 10, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As JayRemE posted, if the man wanted to kill himself he should have done so. However, he shouldn't have taken his family with him.
My condolences to their friends and remaining family members.
justmeinsp:
If you're going to chastise jdgab's post pointing to the Star's liberal bias, then you must chastise ImMadAsHellAndImNotGoingToTakeItAnymore's post pointing to FoxNews' conservative bias. Though none of the posts contribute to the family's story, if you're going to judge one then you must judge all equally.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on October 12, 2008 at 7:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a very sad story. Its too bad he couldn't reach out and get help from someone or go talk to someone. My prayers to the family and friends.
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