The killer dad has now been identified as BRIAN DACUS. As is standard in these cases, the mother was trying to leave him when he murdered her and two of their three children. Abusers very often respond this way when their control is threatened.
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/11/15/3185540/shooter-daughters-idd-in-pa-murder.html
Woman in Pa. murder-suicide broke up with gunman
The Associated Press
Published: Monday, Nov. 15, 2010 - 4:05 am
Last Modified: Monday, Nov. 15, 2010 - 8:01 am
ERIE, Pa. -- A Pennsylvania woman posted online that she had met a new man but was conflicted about breaking up with the father of her three children just days before he shot and killed her, two of the kids and himself.
Twenty-eight-year-old Jamie Malanowski of Erie posted Nov. 9 on her Facebook page that she had broken up with 29-year-old Brian Dacus but wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do.
The Erie Times-News reported that the Erie County coroner on Sunday identified Dacus as the shooter who killed Malanowski and their two children, 7-year-old Trinity Dacus and 4-year-old Brianna Dacus, before killing himself. The couple's 2-year-old son was also wounded but survived.
The bodies were found Saturday by Malanowski's co-workers after she took a break from work but never returned.