Mother, son, his child found dead in apparent murder-suicide

YORK, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania mother, her son and his 3-year-old daughter have been found shot to death in what authorities say was an apparent murder-suicide stemming from a custody dispute over the child.

Officers who were asked to check on the occupants of a Manchester Township home Sunday night found the three family members dead with gunshot wounds, the Northern York County Regional Police Department said Monday.

Police said the child’s mother had recently filed for sole custody and evidence at the scene suggested the shootings were “a planned act or pact” between the woman and her son.

The woman was identified as 50-year-old Tammy June Williams. The father and daughter were identified as Frankie Thomas Williams, 21, and Kelly June Williams.

The York Daily Record reported Monday that the child’s mother wanted to take the child and live with her family in North Carolina and that she alleged in court documents that Frankie Williams threatened he and his family would kill her and her family if she filed for custody.

Police responded to the home Sunday after a woman in North Carolina said she had expected to meet them in Virginia for a child custody exchange, according to police. Officers found the home dark and no one answered the door, police said in a statement.

“As officers were checking the exterior of the home, a dog inside the residence moved a curtain enough that the officers could see inside,” the statement said. “The officers viewed a female lying on a couch. The female had obvious injuries.”

After entering, the officers found the woman and the child with gunshot wounds to the head; the man had shot himself to death, police said.

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