A Pennsylvania dad, who was on the verge of divorce and in a fierce custody battle with his wife, killed their two children and set the home on fire before committing suicide.
The tragedy was perpetrated by 44-year-old Richard A. Zimmer who used a shotgun to kill his children and himself after becoming “increasingly upset over his pending divorce.”
“By June 15, Zimmer’s wife had grown concerned that Zimmer had become ‘very angry’ at her as the two tried to reach a settlement on child custody and financial matters,” a court report reads.
Melissa Zimmer’s attorney had even formulated his client’s concerns in a letter to the court on June 15.
“My client advises me that Mr. Zimmer is very angry with her as she is forcing the contempt matters to Court. As you know, we are only asking him to follow the law. Also, as you know, his anger against my client is not in the children’s best interest.”
The dad didn’t attend a 10 a.m. court hearing prompting relatives to go and check on his wellbeing. They were reportedly met with flames ravaging the residence.
The children, 13 and 10, were presumably shot while sleeping. The father also sustained a fatal self-inflicted wound in a separate room.
