State Police Claim Winchester Father Attempted Suicide Before Leaving Crime Scene
The evidentuary hearing continued Monday morning in Woburn.
After attempting to commit suicide, Thomas Mortimer, IV, made an effort to escape, according to the Massachusetts State Police.
On Monday morning, Mortimer, who is charged with four counts of first-degree murder of his mother-in-law, Ellen Ragna Stone, 64; his wife, Laura Stone Mortimer, 41; his daughter, Charlotte Mortimer, 2; and his son, Thomas “Finn” Mortimer V, 4, was back at the Middlesex Superior Court for an evidentiary hearing.
Mortimer’s attorney – Denis Regan – has filed a motion to remove evidence found at the scene due to a warrantless search.
According to the statement of the case, police seized a typed confession that was allegedly written by Mortimer. Massachusetts State Trooper, David Twomey, found five different letters throughout the home.
One was in the living room, two were in the kitchen and two more were on the bottom of the waste basket, underneath a bloody knife, according to Twomey.
“They were different letters with the same content,” Twomey said.
In the letter, Mortimer allegedly confesses, saying, “I did these horrible things. What I have done is extremely selfish and cowardly.”
He went on to allegedly admit in the letters that his son – Finn – witnessed the murders.
According to Massachusetts State Trooper, Scott McCormack, after the murders, Mortimer attempted to kill himself. McCormack said that there was a plastic bag found at the home on 2 Windsong Lane with vomit in it. He also said that there were prescription drugs throughout the home, as well as a garden hose attached to the exhaust of his vehicle.
Mortimer was arrested on June 17, 2010, in northwestern Massachusetts.
In his Toyota Highlander, State Police found clothes, food, plastic utensils and a change of clothes.
“This shows an effort of flight and a consciousness of guilt,” McCormack said.
There was also a travel kit, some sterile pads and bacitracin in the back of the car.
“Mr. Mortimer’s actions after the murder showed his intention of flight,” McCormack said.
The hearing was continued until Oct. 24, as Regan will file a memorandum to her initial motion of a warrantless search. On the 24th, both sides will wrap up the hearing with oral arguments.
