"Why? We Don't Have A Clue."

"TORONTO, OH - A father shot his 3-year-old son twice, killing him, before turning the gun on himself and taking his own life at a house at 200 Ridgeland Drive, Toronto, early today, Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla said.

"The father, Joseph Boone, 41, started a fire in the basement of the home before the murder-suicide, Abdalla said.

"`Why? We don't have a clue,` Abdalla said about the motive behind the tragedy. He said it appeared money problems may have sparked the incident.

"Two deputies responding to the call entered the smoke-filled house around 1:20 a.m. today and discovered the bodies, the sheriff said.

"Abdalla said it wasn't the first time Boone had threatened to burn down the house. He said a similar call was received on April 20. Deputies responded, talked to Boone and turned the matter over to mental health officials, Abdalla said.

"The boy's mother, Nicole Martin, was separated from Boone and was working at a bar in Stratton, Abdalla said. A friend of Martin's got a call around 1 a.m. from Boone saying he was going to burn down the house. The friend ran to the bar to tell Martin, who called the sheriff's department. Abdalla said deputies told Martin not to go to to the home.

"Deputies Chris Vinci and Carl Brozka arrived at the Ridgeland home and saw smoke. Abdalla said the doors were locked but the deputies broke in through a sliding glass door at the rear of the house.

"Vinci and Brozka went into the smoke-filled home, searching for anyone inside. Abdalla said the smoke was very thick and the deputies were overcome. Abdalla said Vinci found the bodies in a bedroom but there was nothing the deputy could do.

"Abdalla said the boy, Hunter J. Boone, was shot in the side and in the head.

"Joseph Boone had lit a fire in the basement and poured gasoline on the first floor but Abdalla said the gasoline didn't ignite.

"Abdalla said Boone in the past couple weeks had been making threats to other people that he was going to burn down the house instead of letting a bank take the property. The sheriff said it appeared Boone was having financial problems and discovered papers associated with bankruptcy court."

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