Amaris Elliott-Engel / The Citizen
Authorities believe the Cato man who shot his son to death before committing suicide with a rifle Sunday was driven by his beliefs about his deteriorating medical condition.
Based upon physical evidence left at the scene and crime scene analysis, "it would appear it was a planned event," Cayuga County Sheriff's Office Detective Lt. Joseph Weeks reported Thursday.
But the sheriff's office said it's impossible to know Floyd Hunter's exact motive for killing his son, Christopher, 18, and then killing himself.
Cayuga County Sheriff Dave Gould previously said that Floyd, 52, left a note in his Turner Road home that he had killed his son and was going to take his life. Floyd called the Cayuga County 911 center at 12:21 p.m. July 1 saying he had killed Christopher and was going to kill himself. Based on crime scene analysis, Christopher was murdered hours before Floyd called 911, authorities said.
Autopsy results from the Onondaga County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that both died from single gunshot wounds to the head and confirmed that Christopher died prior to Floyd, the sheriff's office reported.
Out of respect to the Hunter family, the sheriff's office said it will not release more detailed information about Floyd's medical condition, physical evidence or the note left by Floyd.
A neighbor reported that Floyd had Huntington's disease, and Floyd's obituary asked for memorial contributions to be made to the Huntington's Disease Society of America.
Huntington's Disease is an inherited, degenerative condition that destroys nerves in the brain and causes emotional disturbances, uncontrolled movement and mental deterioration, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The long gun used in the crime was legally owned by Floyd, Weeks said.
Both Floyd and Christopher's funerals were held Thursday at the exact same time but in separate towns.
Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to call detectives at 253-1610.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
Based upon physical evidence left at the scene and crime scene analysis, "it would appear it was a planned event," Cayuga County Sheriff's Office Detective Lt. Joseph Weeks reported Thursday.
But the sheriff's office said it's impossible to know Floyd Hunter's exact motive for killing his son, Christopher, 18, and then killing himself.
Cayuga County Sheriff Dave Gould previously said that Floyd, 52, left a note in his Turner Road home that he had killed his son and was going to take his life. Floyd called the Cayuga County 911 center at 12:21 p.m. July 1 saying he had killed Christopher and was going to kill himself. Based on crime scene analysis, Christopher was murdered hours before Floyd called 911, authorities said.
Autopsy results from the Onondaga County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that both died from single gunshot wounds to the head and confirmed that Christopher died prior to Floyd, the sheriff's office reported.
Out of respect to the Hunter family, the sheriff's office said it will not release more detailed information about Floyd's medical condition, physical evidence or the note left by Floyd.
A neighbor reported that Floyd had Huntington's disease, and Floyd's obituary asked for memorial contributions to be made to the Huntington's Disease Society of America.
Huntington's Disease is an inherited, degenerative condition that destroys nerves in the brain and causes emotional disturbances, uncontrolled movement and mental deterioration, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The long gun used in the crime was legally owned by Floyd, Weeks said.
Both Floyd and Christopher's funerals were held Thursday at the exact same time but in separate towns.
Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to call detectives at 253-1610.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
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ole guy wrote on Jul 6, 2007 10:23 AM: