One week after a grandfather in Pennsylvania killed eight people in a murder-suicide, it was revealed that relative Lora Roberts and her friend Twila Tanner reported to the home after the shooter’s pregnant daughter, Angelina Stone, called them for help.
Authorities said that Roberts, 37, and Tanner, 51, arrived at the home in Erie, Pennsylvania, on the afternoon of October 9 after Angelina, 24, called Roberts, who was her aunt, asking for help as Matthew Stone Sr. was shooting at her and her immediate family members.
Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah shared an update on the case on Thursday, October 15, and revealed that Angelina had called Roberts on Facebook video around 4:39 p.m. The call was made less than 30 minutes before police responded to the scene, per People.
Lorah said that the call lasted about two minutes, and Roberts messaged Angelina that she was on her way to the home soon after. Roberts then notified Matthew Sr.’s brother’s partner, who lived nearby, to say that Angelina was in trouble.
After police watched video evidence and spoke to witnesses, they determined that Roberts and Tanner seemed “distressed” as they asked neighbors for help.
Lorah added that police believe Matthew Sr., 45, killed Angelina, her children Isiah and Amari’anna, his sons Matthew Stone Jr. and Jonathan Stone, and his wife, Michelle Stone, before killing Roberts and Tanner outside of the home. After he killed the eight victims, Matthew Sr. died by suicide.
It has since been confirmed that Roberts was the sister of Michelle, 44.
In the recent update, Lorah said that the investigation revealed Matthew Sr. had exercised extreme control over his family members for years, isolated them from relatives, controlled how often they saw others and controlled their finances.
Authorities added that Angelina told people she planned to leave the family after the birth of her third child, which was supposed to be just days after the killings. Additionally, she tried to change her last name in order to distance herself from her father so she could pursue a medical career one year earlier.
Lorah also detailed the state of the home at the time of the incident, revealing that it was “extremely filthy.” Drug paraphernalia was also found inside of the residence.
A New Jersey family’s picture-perfect life ended in unimaginable tragedy in October 2026 when authorities discovered that David Grodnick had fatally shot his wife and adult daughter inside their $1.7 million Montgomery Township mansion before his apparent suicide. The deaths of David, 61, his wife Lora, 62, and their daughter, Sloane, 24, have shocked the […]
The killings have left the community in shock, and a vigil was held for the victims on Wednesday, October 14. During the gathering, Tanner’s daughter revealed that her mother also wanted to help others.
“She was a sweet woman. Caring,” Aniecia Al-Amiri told You Erie. “She wanted to go help a family friend, and she lost her life in the middle of trying to help somebody else that she loved and cared about.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
