LEHMAN TOWNSHIP -- Authorities are investigating an apparent murder-suicide in Luzerne County.
Police were called out around noon Wednesday to a home on Summit Street in Lehman Township. Summit Street is off Route 29 in the area of Lake Silkworth.
According to the coroner, Robert Stolarick, Jr., 26, was the homicide victim and the suicide victim is his father, Robert Stolarick, Sr., 54.
"Right now, it appears that dad is the suicide victim and that his son would be the homicide victim," said Bill Lisman, acting Luzerne County coroner.
Authorities in Luzerne County say they're not sure why Robert Stolarick, Sr. shot and killed his son Robert Stolarick, Jr. and then took his own life inside their home near Lake Silkworth.
People at nearby Turse Automotive say it's upsetting to hear about the murder-suicide in the rural community.
"Very quiet, always. The country is beautiful and for a thing like that? Terrible, terrible," said Pat Brokawski.
Family members watched and cried as the bodies were taken from the home on Summit Street. Robert's sister Donna Estus says relatives met for the first time in years on Easter Sunday.
"It was fine up until Monday. I got a phone call and he was acting weird saying 'Somebody's trying to take my son. He's not even really my son. It's his son.' He was talking about his wife; his wife has been passed for years and years," said Estus.
Family members believe Robert was suffering from mental issues and say that his son was developmentally challenged. Relatives and police don't think they'll ever get any answers.
"They were both together, the son was on a bed, the father was on the floor," said Officer Mark Liparela of Lehman Township Police.
The coroner believes the murder-suicide happened Tuesday morning and was discovered before noon Wednesday.
Relatives said that this is the second tragedy to hit this family. In 1994, Robert's wife Catherine was killed in a wreck on Interstate 81. Their son Robbie survived the crash.
