Story perspectives

Police confirm Matthew Stone killed eight family members, himself

By Drooid · Oct 16, 2026, 3:28 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Police chief Rick Lorah said Matthew Stone Sr. killed eight family members and himself in Erie on Oct. 9, 2026.
Victims included his wife Michelle, pregnant daughter Angelina, sons Matthew Jr. and Jonathan, two grandchildren, and two women.
Detectives linked the .40-caliber handgun to a 2019 domestic-violence case that was later dropped.
Mayor Daria Devlin said the city will review services and better support families facing domestic violence.

History

Historical Context

The 1994 Violence Against Women Act, signed by President Bill Clinton, marked a federal response to rising domestic-homicide rates. The law allocated $1.6 billion to the Department of Justice, funded the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and mandated state-level data collection. Today, the Erie tragedy on Oct. 9, 2026, where chief Rick Lorah said Matthew Stone Sr. killed eight relatives, mirrors the act’s goal of stopping family-targeted killings. If enforcement expands, future municipalities like Erie could reduce such massacres, fulfilling VAWA’s promise of safer homes and stronger protective orders nationwide.

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Story summary

Police chief Rick Lorah said Matthew Stone Sr. killed eight family members and himself in Erie on Oct. 9, 2026.
Victims included his wife Michelle, pregnant daughter Angelina, sons Matthew Jr. and Jonathan, two grandchildren, and two women.
Detectives linked the .40-caliber handgun to a 2019 domestic-violence case that was later dropped.
Mayor Daria Devlin said the city will review services and better support families facing domestic violence.

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