A US man who had an incestuous relationship with his daughter and fathered a child with her shot and killed her and her adoptive father and then took his own life.
The child, a seven-month-old boy, was found slain in another state.
The man, 45-year-old Steven Pladl, and his daughter, 20-year-old Katie Pladl, had been arrested on incest charges, and the baby boy, who was found dead in a home in Knightdale, North Carolina, was their biological child, a lawyer for Steven Pladl said.
Knightdale police Chief Lawrence Capps said, "We're trying to make sense of all the factors that led up to this senseless taking of life."
Officers responding to reports of gunfire around 8.40am in New Milford, Connecticut, found two victims inside the pick-up truck with a window shot out, police Lt Lawrence Ash said.
Police were searching for Steven Pladl's vehicle, a Honda minivan, when he was found dead inside it several kilometres away in Dover, New York. Authorities said the motive for the shooting was under investigation.
Around the time the shooting was reported, police in Knightdale found the body of the baby, Bennett Pladl.
Steven Pladl's mother had called police to conduct a welfare check on the Knightsdale home after a disturbing phone conversation with him, Capps said. Police found the infant alone in the house.
Found slain in the pick-up truck with Katie Pladl was her adoptive father, 56-year-old Anthony Fusco, Capps said.
Virginia attorney Rick Friedman, who had been representing Steven Pladl in the felony incest case, said he had breakfast with Pladl only a month ago and had no indication that such violence was possible.
As part of the bond requirements, Friedman said, the father and daughter were not supposed to communicate with one another. He said Katie Pladl had been living in New York with her adoptive parents.
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.
MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78.
Multicultural Mental Health Australia www.mmha.org.au.
Local Aboriginal Medical Service details available from www.bettertoknow.org.au/AMS
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