(NationRise.com) – A 10-year-old child in Oklahoma is staying with relatives after discovering the dead bodies of his parents and siblings before calling 911.
The child, whose name has not been released, narrowly escaped a murder-suicide rampage by his father, 42-year-old Jonathon Candy, on April 22nd. The child awoke to find his relatives dead and called police on his own. Authorities said he told the operator that “everyone inside the house appeared to be dead.” Police discovered the bodies soon after. The mother and one child were downstairs. The other two were found upstairs.
The victims included Lucas Candy, 12, Ethan Candy, 14, Dylan Candy, 18, and the mother, 39-year-old Lindsay Candy. Dylan had just graduated from Mustang High School in 2023. The other three were still attending classes at Mustang Public Schools.
Reports indicate that Mr. and Mrs. Candy had a fight the night before they perished. Authorities have not discussed what may have prompted the fight or how severe it became. However, Candy is believed to have armed himself before shooting his wife several times.
He then “hunted down” his children systematically, according to police. Authorities have yet to narrow down Candy’s motive, admitting that they might never know. There was no record of domestic abuse calls at the home. Police also said they aren’t sure how or why the 10-year-old survived. However, Master Sergeant Gary Knight with the Oklahoma City Police Department said they will be interviewing friends and relatives with hopes of finding answers.
Police eventually closed off the entire neighborhood and only permitted residents to enter. They still weren’t yet sure whether the father actually committed the killings or if a murderer may have been hiding in the area.
He also said investigators would document the scene and any information gathered. However, he also noted that no charges will be filed since the killer is dead.
The Mustang Public Schools district released a statement expressing its sadness over the tragedy while noting that it has already “been a very difficult year” for members of the community. The district dispatched a Crisis Response Team to the schools to assist with coping. It also warned parents and teachers to listen closely to children who report domestic problems.
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