Erie Gunman Exercised Total Control Over Family Before Deadly Shooting Spree
Police reveal that a Pennsylvania man who killed eight people in a mass shooting had strictly controlled his family's finances and movements for years.
POLICY WIRE — Erie, Pennsylvania — A Pennsylvania man who murdered eight people, including seven of his own family members, before taking his own life had maintained a regime of extreme isolation and financial control over his relatives, according to local authorities.
Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah stated that the perpetrator, 45-year-old Matthew Stone Sr., began his pattern of authoritarian behavior more than two decades ago. Investigators reported that Stone restricted his family’s ability to leave their home or interact with outsiders, leading his wife, Michelle Stone, to eventually sever ties with her friends.
The victims of the October 9 tragedy included Michelle Stone, 44; their children, Angelina Stone, 24, Jonathan Stone, 19, and Matthew Stone Jr., 21; and two grandchildren. Additionally, Lora Roberts, 37, and Twila Tanner, 51, were killed outside the residence after arriving at the scene. Angelina Stone, who was days away from giving birth, had reportedly been planning to leave the home.
Police described the interior of the residence as being in a state of extreme filth, noting the presence of urine-filled bottles and non-functional plumbing. While investigators discovered drug paraphernalia on the premises, they have not yet determined the specific role that substance use or mental health issues played in the massacre.
Mayor Daria Devlin addressed the community following the revelation of the family’s living conditions, questioning whether local systems could have intervened sooner. She emphasized the need for the community to examine how to better support struggling families to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
