Suspect In Montgomery County Shooting Spree Died Of Self-Inflicted Cut Wounds

The man suspected of killing his ex-wife and five of her family members was found dead from self-inflicted ”cutting wounds” in the woods near his home on Tuesday, authorities said.

Bradley Stone’s body was found around 1:30 p.m. in a wooded area in New Hanover Township, about a half mile from his home in Pennsburg, Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said during a press conference Tuesday. A knife was found near his body, Ferman said.

Ferman confirmed Stone died from self-inflicted cutting wounds to the “center part of his body.” However the coroner is still completing the autopsy report, which will also provide insight into the time of death, Ferman said.

“I would expect the coroner can give some indication about how long he was there,” Ferman said.

The discovery of Stone’s body came after an extensive search spanning Bucks and Montgomery counties that started early Monday after authorities began investigating the six murders at three locations.

“There’s no valid excuse for snuffing out these lives,” Ferman said. “We’re really numb from what we’ve had to go through.”

Related stories:

• Who is Bradley Stone?
• Possible Sighting of Montgomery County Shooting Suspect Reported in Doylestown
• UPDATE: 6 Dead In Montgomery County Shooting Spree; Suspect Identified

Authorities say Stone shot his ex-wife, Nicole Hill Stone, in the early morning hours Monday at her residence in Lower Salford Township. Her two children, who were taken from the scene by the gunman, are safe in protective custody, Ferman confirmed during the press conference.

Stone is also suspected of killing Hill Stone’s mother, Joanne Hill, and grandmother, Patricia Hill, both of Lansdale, as well as her sister, Patricia Flick, her sister’s husband, Aaron, and their 14-year-old daughter, Nina. The Flick’s 17-year-old son, Anthony, is recovering from cutting wounds inflicted by Stone, Ferman said. The Flick family, located in Souderton, was the first to be targeted by Stone, according to authorities.

Authorities on Tuesday searched throughout Pennsburg to locate Stone. SWAT teams were searching throughout neighborhoods, checking garages and containers for any trace of him.

While the search on Monday was largely confined to Pennsburg, a possible sighting was reported in Doylestown, Bucks County around 7 p.m. Authorities said later that they believed this was a false report.

An hours-long search throughout the wooded area along Burpee Road and Shady Retreat Road in Doylestown followed. Doylestown residents were asked to shelter in place, as K-9 units, helicopters and thermal imaging technology was used to locate the suspect.

But the search turned up empty and before midnight, the shelter in place in Doylestown was lifted. Authorities there on Tuesday said they don’t have clear evidence linking Stone to the carjacking report.

Stone, a military veteran, was considered armed and dangerous, authorities warned. The Morning Call reported he sought treatment for PTSD after being honorably discharged from the Marines in 2011 but Ferman said she could not confirm whether he was diagnosed with the disorder.

Ferman said Stone had been undergoing treatment connected to a recent driving-under-the-influence charge.

A marine who served under Stone’s command in the Marines told NBC10 the suspected killer was “quite frankly a little odd.“ The marine, who asked his name not be used, told the news channel Stone was a “little out there.”

Area schools were placed on lockdown Monday as a result of the police activity and Upper Perkiomen School District cancelled classes Tuesday due to the search.

“Due to the fact that law enforcement still seeks the whereabouts of an armed and dangerous local resident, Upper Perkiomen schools will be closed on Tuesday, December 16th. The District attorney has asked that people in our area remain vigilant,” the district announced on its website.

Students in the Council Rock School Distirct, located in Newtown, Bucks County, were kept indoors Tuesday due to the search, officials there announced.