Family problems may have led to the murder-suicide of four family members of a Pauldin County, GA sheriff deputy on Tuesday, USA Today reported.
Cpl. Sam Driskell, 52, was found dead in bed from a gunshot wound. His wife, Muachin, 36, and 12-year-old daughter, Carolyn, were found in the hallway nearby. Felix Almonte, the 21-year-old stepson, is the suspected shooter and was found dead from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The grizzly scene was discovered at a home in Douglasville, 25 miles outside of Atlanta. There were problems in the home with Almonte, according to people who knew them well, but there was never any sign that something heinous would occur.
"We believe they had some issues with the stepson," said Paulding County Sheriff Gary Gulledge. "And we're trying to dig into that right now."
Derrick Morris is a cousin of the Driskells and lives across the street from the home. He said Sam Driskell was a successful deputy who served in the U.S. military for 20 years before he met his wife, who he later married in a ceremony in the Dominican Republic. With the marriage he became a stepfather to Mauchin's son, Almonte.
The Driskells then had a daughter, Carolyn, after Sam Driskell joined the Pauldin County Police Department 10 years ago.
"What we believe was they had some issue with the stepson," Gulledge said of the family, CNN reported.
Sam Driskell was a no-show in a court appearance on Tuesday, which was unlike him. The bodies were found when other officers went to check on him after becoming concerned.
"All my guys are heartbroken," said Gulledge. "He's one of the best guys we've ever had."
