Ohio murder suicide: Ralph Moore kills sister Vickie Thornhill, niece Arianna Cope, self during call to other sister
Police have identified the three people dead in a murder-suicide that happened in Perry Township as Ralph Moore Jr., who shot and killed his sister, Vickie Thornhill and her 19-year-old daughter Arianna Cope.
Police received a phone call about a man who had just shot two family members. When authorities arrived they found the three residents dead inside the home.
Moore, 62, shot and killed his sister, Thornhill, age 59, and then Cope. Police say he then called his other sister to tell her what happened. After making the phone call to his other sister, it appears Moore shot and killed himself, police said.
Lake County Coroner Dr. Mark Komar explained that Thornhill was found in a bedroom and Cope was found laying on a couch. He added that Cope was shot while she slept and Thornhill was shot as she got out of bed.
Both victims had multiple gunshot wounds, the coroner concluded.
Moore’s body was found in the living room with a single gunshot wound to the head.
Detectives say Thornhill and Cope both resided with Moore and had planned on moving out on Saturday. According to police, Moore was distraught over the two leaving him alone in the house.
Cope had recently graduated from Perry High School and was a student at Lake Erie College, authorities said.
Perry Township is located in Lake County between Fairport Harbor and Geneva-on-the-Lake.
The shooting remains under investigation.