Man Shoots Family, Burns Rented Mansion With Fireworks

"TAMPA, FL — A business executive, his wife and two teenage children found dead in a suspected murder/suicide had all been shot with the father's gun before the million-dollar Florida mansion they were renting burned down, it was revealed today.

"Autopsies were still being completed to determine exactly how the victims died.

"Authorities recovered a gun at the home registered to 51-year-old Darrin Campbell and he was caught on a store camera buying an `exceedingly large amount` of fireworks days before the suspected arson fire, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Col. Donna Lusczynski said.

"The firecrackers reportedly surrounded the bodies and apparently started the fire that engulfed the two-story, five bedroom home the family was leasing from tennis pro James Blake.

"Mr Campbell was found dead in the burnt out $1.5 million home alongside his wife, Kimberly.

"His two teenage children, Colin, 19, and Megan, 16, were found in their respective bedrooms—with police saying two of the victims had suffered `upper body trauma.`

"A surveillance video was released late Thursday showing Darrin Campbell dressed in a dark-grey T-shirt and shorts placing stacks of fireworks into a shopping cart at Phantom Fireworks.

"The nine-minute silent clip depicts the married father of two emptying his full cart at the cash register.

"At one point, Campbell is seen ducking back into an aisle to pick up more pyrotechnics before handing the cashier $650 in cash for his purchase.

"Store clerk Michael Muti who handled the transaction Sunday recalled Campbell as being `normal and chatty.`

"`He said he was shopping early for fireworks for the Fourth of July,` Muti said."

Read more at the Daily Mail...

Firemen Suspect Bomb At Scene Of Murder/Suicide

"LAKE CHARLES, LA — The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office is investigating what appears to be a murder/suicide at a home on Dolphin Drive in south Lake Charles.

"Sheriff Tony Mancuso said at this time, the suspect has been transported to the hospital in grave condition but does still have a pulse. The victim's body was found inside the home.

"Mancuso said while containing the house fire, officials may have seen what looked like an explosive device. Fire crews are working on putting out hotspots from a distance until the Louisiana State Police bomb squad arrives and gives the okay.

"Mancuso said it is too early to say how the victim died, but early witness accounts indicate the suspect shot himself in his front yard after the victim died.

"The identities of the victim and suspect have not yet been released pending notification of kin."

From kplctv.com...

Explosion, Fire Follow Murder/Suicide

"HARLINGEN, TX — Officials are investigating a fatal house fire as a murder/suicide.

"Firefighters and police were called at 5:45 a.m. Monday to a residence in the 1200 block of Rio Hondo, where an explosion reportedly set the home ablaze.

"Fire and police investigators said they recovered the bodies believed to be homeowners Art and Debbie Cohan. Their ages were not released by investigators who are awaiting forensics reports to confirm the identities.
Police said the bodies were found in a bedroom of the house where all windows and doors were blown from their frames by the force of the blast.

"Neighbors reported hearing an explosion and seeing blue flames coming from the wood-frame house. The Harlingen Fire Department classified the blast as a “low-pressure explosion.”

"`It woke me up, it was a big boom,` neighbor Josie Cavazos said. `Everything shook,` she said. `(The house) was engulfed... Blue flames were coming out of the door.`

"Police Sgt. Dave Osborne said letters, packages and surveillance footage led investigators to believe Cohan may have killed his wife and later committed suicide.

"While it is early in the investigation, investigators said Cohan may have acted to ease the suffering of his terminally ill wife.

"`It appears at this time that he may have decided to take his wife’s life and his own life, amongst the medical conditions in place,` Osborne said."

Read more at the Valley Morning Star...

Bomb Materials Found After Murder/Suicide

"LIZTON, IN — Police searching the home of a man accused of killing his wife before shooting himself discovered a box full of pipe bombs, investigators said.

"Witnesses told police that Michael T. Giles, 37, and his wife, Emily C. Giles, 26, had been drinking in a barn with friends behind their home near 8000 North County Road 400 West in Hendricks County on Monday night.

"When they got into an argument, Michael Giles followed Emily Giles into the home.
Friends said they heard gunshots and found the woman shot on the sidewalk. Michael Giles was found with a gunshot wound to the head.

"Emily Giles was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Her husband was flown by medical helicopter to St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis with serious injuries, police said.

"A child who was asleep in the home at the time was not injured.

"When police searched the couple's home Tuesday night, they discovered a metal box with 17 pipe bombs inside.

"The bombs were loaded with nails and BBs.

"They were destroyed at the scene by members of the Indianapolis police bomb squad early Wednesday."

From TheINDYChannel.com...

Pipe Bomb Adds Twist To Murder/Suicide

"WEST BEND, WI - Authorities found the dead bodies of a man and woman in the woman's driveway after what authorities call a murder-suicide.

"West Bend Police say a man shot his 52-year-old ex-wife outside her home before turning the gun on himself.

"ATF agents have been investigating the situation after the discovery of a detonated pipe bomb in her SUV which was still running.

"The incident happened just after 12:00 a.m. on Thursday morning on the 1200 block of 12th Avenue.

"Both bodies were lying very close to each other next to the woman's SUV which was still running.

"Police say the woman was married twice. The woman's grown son was inside the home at the time, while her daughter arrived at the scene later on.

"It is unclear whether her first or second ex-husband was the suspect in the case."

From TMJ4...