| Ср, Июн 3, 2009 05:52pm [Аноним] - 5460 d back | ↑↓ |
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Arlington Heights police said today that they found a suicide note allegedly written by the husband and father who died in the fire Tuesday in the northwest suburb.
Investigators believe that gasoline was used to spark the blaze that killed Kevin Finnerty, his wife Patricia and their 11-year-old son Garrett.
Police said they found a suicide note Tuesday in the garage and preliminary handwriting analysis determined that the note was written by Kevin Finnerty. Officials said that letter, coupled with forensic evidence determined that Finnerty wanted to "cause harm to his entire family," according to a news release from Arlington Heights police. The letter along with other evidence is being sent to the Illinois State Police Crime lab for analysis.
The note was several pages and discussed financial issues and issues with Kevin Finnerty's art business, said Arlington Heights police Cmdr. Kenneth Galinski.
Galinksi said authorities believe Finnerty's intention was to kill his whole family, but "he did indicate how much he loved his family,'' in the note.
Autopsies failed to determine today the exact cause and manner of death of the three family members, pending the results of police and fire investigations.
Kevin Finnerty, 46, died early this morning of severe burns, according to the medical examiner's office. Patricia, 41, and Garrett, 11, died Tuesday in their home in the 100 block of East Park Street.
Officials said the letter contained "details surrounding this tragic event," according to the news release.
A search of the home after the fire revealed an empty can of gasoline in the master bedroom, where Patricia Finnerty was found, the release stated. Burn patterns in the home were "consistent with the use of gasoline," the release said.
There were no signs of forced entry to the home, officials said.
Kevin Finnerty was a local artist known for cityscapes and worked out of his home. As with many artists, the bad economy had hurt the sale of his artwork. He sustained burns to 100 percent of his body. He was found on the first floor near the kitchen.
Patricia Finnerty was a college guidance counselor at Libertyville High School. But prior to this year she had worked for 15 years as a counselor at Niles North High School. Her body was found in an upstairs bedroom where officials said the fire likely started. The bedroom door showed "heavy charring and burning," signs of arson, Galinski said.
Garrett was in 5th grade at Westgate Elementary School in Arlington Heights.
The couple's two other children, Bridget, 12, and Pierce, 6, escaped through a second-floor window onto the roof. Bridget rushed to a neighbor's house at 3:30 a.m. to call for help. They were treated and released from Northwest Community Hospital and are now in the care of family members, officials said.
For photographs in this story, go here.
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