In a tragic incident in Oklahoma, authorities believe that a father committed a horrific act of violence against his own family, resulting in the deaths of his wife and three of their four children. The devastating event, which unfolded in their home, has been described by police as an apparent murder-suicide that took place on April 22.
The perpetrator, identified as 42-year-old Jonathon Candy, reportedly killed his wife, 39-year-old Lindsay Candy, following an altercation between the couple. He then went on to fatally shoot three of their children: 18-year-old Dylan, 14-year-old Ethan, and 12-year-old Lucas. After carrying out the murders, Jonathon took his own life.
During a press conference held the following day, Oklahoma City Police Sergeant Gary Knight provided further details about the sequence of events. He emphasized the brutal nature of the crime, stating that the killings represented a deliberate and merciless act. “The children were hunted down and killed,” Knight explained, underscoring the deliberate nature of the attack within the family’s home, according to Fox News.
The grim situation came to light early that morning when the couple’s youngest son, who is 10 years old and was the sole survivor of the incident, made a distressing 911 call around 9:35 a.m. He reported that everyone inside the home appeared to be dead. Upon their arrival, police officers found the tragic scene and confirmed the deaths of Jonathon, Lindsay, and three of their children. They found the young caller unharmed and later confirmed that he was now in the care of relatives.
The community has been left reeling by the shocking event. Rhonda Armstrong, a local resident who knew Ethan through his involvement in a baseball team, expressed her profound distress over the murders. Armstrong, who also served as a kind of “team mom,” recounted her futile attempts to reach the family. She described repeatedly urging her son to contact Ethan through social media and texts, while she herself tried calling Lindsay and messaging Dylan, according to KOKH-TV.
The lack of response left her feeling helpless and hoping for an end to what she described as a nightmare. The tragedy has deeply affected the local community, leaving friends, neighbors, and acquaintances to grapple with the loss and its implications. The event not only represents a profound personal loss to the family and their immediate community but also raises broader questions about family safety and the dynamics that can lead to such devastating outcomes.
As the community mourns, authorities continue to investigate the details surrounding the incident, seeking to understand the motives and circumstances that led to this appalling crime. Meanwhile, support is being extended to the surviving child, ensuring his safety and care as he deals with the aftermath of this unthinkable tragedy.
Police have not shared a motive for the violence. They asked anyone with information to call the Homicide Tip Line at 405-297-1200.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
