An Iraq War veteran accused of murdering his ex-wife and five of her family members was found dead on Tuesday in the back woods nearby his Pennsylvania home.
Bradley Stone died of self-inflicted cutting wounds to the center of his body just one day after he allegedly murdered his ex-wife and her family. According to Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Ferman, the same sword or large knife that Stone may have used to kill four generations of his wife’s family was also used to terminate his own life.
According to the Daily Beast, police discovered a cellphone with a video recorded on it nearby Stone’s body, which may provide additional details to the apparent suicide. Police had conducted a massive manhunt to find Stone since the early hours on Monday.
Ironically, on Wednesday the Washington Times reported that a Veterans Affairs psychiatrist cleared the former marine of suicidal or homicidal tendencies one week before his alleged killing spree. A VA statement read that Stone “met with his psychiatrist on December 8th at the Coatesville [Veterans Affairs Medical Center], and the provider noted that at the time of the evaluation, the veteran was without any suicidal or homicidal ideation.”
Stone had received a 100% disability rating at the VA for Post Traumatic Stress disorder, the Times reported. He has been considered disabled since 2010 and receiving $3,000 a month in benefits.
In an article by NBC Philadelphia, one former marine, who served under Stone’s command in the 3rd Battalion 14th Marine regiment based out of Northeast Philadelphia, said that he spent more than a year working with Stone before being deployed to different parts of Iraq in 2008.
He said that while Stone talked about having PTSD, he questioned whether the man actually suffered from the disorder. Perone and other marines cited his short tour of duty and apparent lack of combat action as reasons. “I don’t think he necessarily had PTSD,” Perone said. “It affects everyone differently, though.”
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