Bradley Stone, former Marine and main suspect for the Pennsylvania killing last Monday, was found dead due to self inflicted wounds.
According to reports, Stone was found lifeless, bearing self inflicted wounds at the center part of his body, which would have likely caused his demise. He was found lying in a wooded area about half a mile from his Pennsburg home on Tuesday, County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said in a conference.
Prior to his death, local authorities were searching for Stone after warrant for arrest was issued. He was believed to be responsible in the death of his ex-wife, Nicole Hill-Stone and five others.
Stone, according to witnesses, was last seen at his ex-wife's Harleysville apartment. Stone-Hill's family members were not spared from the dreadful killing. Patricia Hill, Stone-Hill's grandmother was shot in the head and arm; Trish Flick, her sister, was cut and shot in the face; Trish's husband Aaron Flick, was shot in the hands and the head; Stone-Hill's mother was cut and shot in the neck; and Nina, her 14-year old niece, died of cuts. Stone fled after the gruesome incident.
Stone and his ex-wife filed for divorce in 2009. The former had appealed for an emergency custody over his children, which the court declined. Stone had two daughters with his ex-wife Nicole, and one child with his current wife.
Unconfirmed reports indicated that Stone was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
PTSD is often developed after a person has experienced a traumatic incident that can make him feel unsafe or helpless. The condition is prevalent among soldiers who have returned from war, and have witnessed gruesome or numerous deaths of people they know or have worked with. The damage can be more severe if the person himself has experienced a gruesome attack that had almost cost him his life.
Natural disasters, assault, physical abuse, childhood neglect, sudden death of a loved one, and war are just some events that can eventually lead to a person developing PTSD.
