Mom Uses Nitrogen Gas To Kill Kids, Self

"EAST GREENBUSH, NY — A murder/suicide led to the deaths of three people in East Greenbush Tuesday morning, according to authorities.

"East Greenbush Police said they responded to 58 Rockrose Drive at around 1:30 a.m., where three people have been pronounced dead, including two children.

"During a press conference, the East Greenbush Chief of Police released details surrounding the case.

"Officials say that Angela Mtambu, the deceased adult, was grieving after her son took his own life in the same home on April 1, 2014. He was a 23-year-old who had served in the military. Bernard Pamberi, the brother Mtambu, explained that the mother of three had a tough time coming to terms with her son’s death.

"`She was doing all this grieving, she couldn't take it,` said Pamberi.

"According to police, on June 1 Mtambu threatened to harm her daughters in the Rockrose Drive home. She was driving from Texas when the threat was made, while her children were being taken care of in East Greenbush by Pamberi.

"While Mtambu drove to New York, she was intercepted in Pennsylvania by State Police. She was then detained and held for a 20-day mental health evaluation.

"After 20 days in confinement and because no order of protection was issued, Mtambu was released after the evaluation, and authorities say it was up to family members to determine the conditions of her engagement with the children.

"Police say that on June 29, family members allowed Mtambu to sleep in the same room as her children. On June 30, the mother and daughters went to bed at 10 p.m. Family members say they woke up at 1:20 a.m. to the sound of gas escaping the room the trio was in.

"Pamberi contacted police when he could not get inside the bedroom. He said that when they were finally inside the room, they found plastic bags and gas tanks. The East Greenbush Chief of Police says the gas has been identified as compressed nitrogen.

"`There she was with the two children with the plastic bag, and there were two gas tanks there,` said Pamberi.

"Pamberi’s two nieces, 11-year-old Cara and 6-year-old Kutenda were pronounced dead at the hospital."

From fox23news.com...

Woman Shot, Suicide By Natural Gas Fails

"STOWE TOWNSHIP, PA — Allegheny County police are investigating after a woman was fatally shot Wednesday afternoon inside a home in Stowe Township.

"Lt. Andrew Schurman said a preliminary investigation shows a man, who has not been identified, was rushed to an area hospital after being overcome by natural gas.

"`Right now we’re in the early stages of our investigation and we’re trying to piece everything together. We’re trying to figure out how the woman was shot and the man was overcome by natural gas,` Schurman said.

"Police responded to the home on Broadway Street just before 3 p.m. initially for a call of a natural gas leak.

"Investigators said a third man who lives in the home found the woman dead and the man unresponsive. He turned the gas off and called police.

"Investigators from the Medical Examiner’s Office are also at the two-story home.

"According to police, they’re investigating the incident as a possible murder-attempted suicide.

"Authorities said the man who was overcome by gas was rushed to an area hospital and is expected to survive."

From WPXI.com...

Botched Suicide Pact Follows Murder

"MIDWEST CITY, OK — A man arrested Wednesday in the death of a Midwest City woman made a suicide pact with his girlfriend after slaying Violet Hemphill, 64, police said Wednesday.

"Hemphill died from multiple sharp force injuries to the head and chest, the state medical examiner said Wednesday. Her death was ruled a homicide.

"Phillip Michael Potts, 23, was arrested on a murder complaint after being released from the hospital Tuesday, according to a new release from Midwest City police. He is Hemphill's nephew.

"Potts and his 22-year-old girlfriend had been staying with his aunt for several days before the killing, according to police.

"The two were found unconscious at Hemphill's home in the 1000 block of Holly Lane about 5:30 p.m. Monday after a relative went to the home to make a welfare check and noticed a strong odor of natural gas.

"Police broke down the door and made a bizarre discovery: Hemphill dead in one bedroom and Potts and his girlfriend nude and unconscious in another."

From NEWSOK.com...