First Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed In Quadruple Solebury Killings

The family of one of the men who authorities have confirmed was a victim of this summer's mass murder in Solebury has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against suspects Cosmo DiNardo and Sean Kratz, as well as DiNardo's parents.

Sandra and Antonio DiNardo, who reside in Bensalem, also own the rural property where authorities located the buried remains of the four young men in July.

The family of Mark Sturgis, who was 22 when he was shot and killed, filed the lawsuit Wednesday in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, according to their lawyers Ross Feller Casey, LLP.

The lawsuit alleges Sandra and Antonio DiNardo created a "dangerous situation" by failing to secure weapons and allowing their 20-year-old son access to the sprawling Solebury Township property. The

The lawsuit says DiNardo's parents did not secure the weapon police say was used in the slayings — a Smith and Wesson 357 registered to his mother — even though they knew their son had a history of mental illness.

Further, the lawsuit notes that DiNardo's parents owned the backhoe used to bury Sturgis' body, as well as those of the other victims. They failed to safeguard the backhoe, causing a risk to the public at large, the suit says.

"The death of Mark Sturgis resulted from negligence, carelessness, recklessness and/or willful and wanton tortious conduct of the named individuals," the lawsuit states. The amount sought in damages has not been released.

"With this lawsuit, the heartbroken parents of Mark Sturgis intend to hold accountable everyone responsible for the horrific death of their son, not just those who pulled the trigger. This includes those who negligently and carelessly permitted either of the accused to gain access to firearms and equipment used in these heinous crimes," said their attorney Robert Ross.

Authorities say DiNardo killed the victims in three separate shootings, all of which took place on the DiNardo family farm on Lower York Road.

Jimi Taro Patrick, 19, of Newtown Township was killed first on July 5, authorities said. Authorities allege on July 7, DiNardo and Kratz killed Dean Finocchiaro, 19, of Middletown Township. Thomas Meo, 21, of Plumstead Township and Sturgis, 22, of Pennsburg, were killed later that day when they arrived at the property together.

Kratz has been charged in three of the killings.

Human remains were discovered after a massive search effort. See timeline here.

PHOTO, Cosmo DiNardo, Bucks County DA