Erie patriarch controlled family for decades before killing eight, police reveal

For more than two decades, Matthew Stone Sr. ran his Erie, Pennsylvania household like a closed system: controlling the family's money, dictating when members could leave, and cutting his wife off from friends. On October 9, that system ended in the deaths of eight people, including his pregnant daughter, who had packed her bags to leave. On Thursday, police laid out what they now know — and what they still cannot explain.

The victims included Stone's wife Michelle Stone, 44; his daughter Angelina Stone, 24, who was expecting a baby the following Monday; his sons Matthew Stone Jr., 21, and Jonathan Stone, 19; two young grandchildren — a 5-year-old boy and a 22-month-old girl; and two women who had come to the house, Lora Roberts, 37, and Twila Tanner, 51. Stone then died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Roberts and Tanner were shot outside the home as they arrived; all six family members were found inside.

There are still questions that we cannot answer, particularly about why this happened, but what we have been able to establish is a much clearer picture of the events on Friday, Oct. 9.— Rick Lorah, Erie Police Chief

According to Lorah, relatives told investigators that Stone began exhibiting authoritarian behavior after his wife learned she was pregnant with their first child, more than two decades ago. Family finances — among them supplemental government income received for one of the grandchildren — were under his control, and he dictated when household members could leave or see relatives. Michelle Stone, according to Lorah, eventually stopped maintaining contact with friends altogether.

When detectives entered the Perry Street home after the shooting, they found it in what Lorah described as 'extremely filthy' condition. None of the shower, toilet, or kitchen sink appeared to be functional, and investigators discovered numerous two-liter bottles filled with urine scattered throughout the house. Water service was still active but carried an outstanding balance of $1,900, according to Las Vegas Sun.

Angelina Stone had been trying to get out. A year before the shooting, she filed a petition to change her last name, citing concerns about her father's declining mental health and her desire to pursue a career in medicine without her name being associated with him, according to Lorah. That application was closed in April 2026. In the period leading up to the shooting, she had sent messages indicating she intended to leave the family home once she gave birth, and that her father had been physically abusive toward her brothers and was forcing them out. Two weeks before the shooting, on September 25, she shared ultrasound photos of her unborn child on social media. Detectives who searched her bedroom afterward found her belongings gathered in bags and boxes, ready to go.

The sequence of events on October 9 began just after 4:39 p.m., when Angelina called her aunt, Lora Roberts — Michelle Stone's sister — on Facebook Messenger. The call lasted about two minutes. Roberts said she was on her way. Within ten minutes, Roberts and her friend and neighbor Twila Tanner arrived outside the house. According to NBC News, Angelina had called Roberts asking for a ride to the hospital. Three minutes after Roberts and Tanner arrived, the city's ShotSpotter system detected gunfire.

According to Las Vegas Sun, audio and video evidence collected by investigators captured the muffled sounds of gunfire from inside the home shortly before Roberts and Tanner pulled up and knocked urgently on the door. Stone emerged from the house and opened fire on the two women as they moved toward him, then went back inside.

Between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., SWAT and hostage negotiation teams were notified. Shortly after 7 p.m., officers forced open the front door, which Stone had partially barricaded. They found the bodies of the two young children on the first floor, Angelina Stone on the stairwell, and then Michelle Stone and the two sons. Stone Sr. was discovered on the second floor with a gunshot wound that appeared to be self-inflicted.

Roberts had devoted herself to advocacy work on behalf of the local homeless population. Christine Tombaugh, executive director of the homeless shelter Community of Caring, said it was completely in keeping with Roberts's character to respond to a relative's call for help and to bring a friend with her.

Her passion in life was helping others. She had a giving spirit, a beautiful heart. Great mom, just a valued friend. She had a heart for the homeless and people in need, just helping whoever she could. That was her passion.— Christine Tombaugh, Executive Director, Community of Caring

The 22-month-old girl killed was identified by her father, Juicesiyah Alexander Ezekiel, who spoke to NBC affiliate WICU. 'Her name is Amari'anna,' he said. Ezekiel added, 'She's the most beautiful baby God could have created.' Her second birthday was only a month away. State law prevented authorities from releasing the children's names officially.

Relatives had expressed worry about Stone Sr.'s mental state, possible physical ailments, and what they suspected was substance abuse, methamphetamine among them. Drug paraphernalia was recovered inside the home, though investigators were unable to determine whether mental health issues or substance use contributed in any way to the shooting. No medical records confirming a mental health diagnosis were found.

There was also a documented prior incident. A 2019 arrest saw Stone charged with threatening his wife at gunpoint — with the same .40-caliber handgun he used in the October 9 shootings. The case fell apart after Michelle Stone revised her original account at a preliminary hearing, leading to the charges being dropped.

What we cannot say with certainty is what happened inside the home between those communications and the shooting or exactly what caused Matthew Stone Sr. to take these actions. Those are important limits to what this investigation can tell us.— Rick Lorah, Erie Police Chief

Erie Mayor Daria Devlin, speaking at the same press conference, turned the question outward — toward the city's systems and whether they had failed the family.

Were there opportunities to recognize that this family was struggling? Were there places where our systems could have responded differently? And how do we make sure other families in our community who are suffering or struggling don't fall through the cracks?— Daria Devlin, Mayor of Erie

Devlin said she has begun conversations with healthcare leaders and community organizations about supporting families experiencing domestic violence and isolation, and that the city's focus will now turn to helping the Perry Street neighborhood heal.

Why it matters — The case raises urgent questions about whether domestic violence warning signs — a prior arrest, family isolation, deteriorating living conditions — can be acted on before they escalate, and what community systems failed to intervene.

Reported by cbsnews.com, nbcnews.com, lasvegassun.com