There's always more to the story...

Tragedy befell a Middletown family on Saturday, but what really happened?

From the Associated Press 4/19/09:
"MIDDLETOWN, Md. – A Maryland man who killed his wife and three children before fatally shooting himself left behind five notes, including an apology to family members and hints that he suffered from psychiatric problems, authorities said. The local sheriff said there were also signs that the family had financial problems."

Not included in the story:

The Maryland man was Christopher Wood. The wife, Francie Billotti-Wood, had a blog on this service. She made some pertinent entries since starting the blog in 2006. The Wood family lived in Jacksonsville, Florida until late 2008. Her blog indicates that a decision had been made for her and the three kids to move to Middletown, MD. She thought it would be best if the children were around family and friends. Francie was from Middletown. Her parents still live there. She graduated from Middletown HS in 1994 and Hood College in 1998.

A blog entry from 12/028/2006:

Well, we got back on Tuesday after spending the Holiday in MD with family and friends. I really miss MD. I am trying to find my husband a job back there now. Part of the reason I think I am over Jacksonville. Is I am tired of the same- Jacksonville is very same. Same weather (it was 82 yesterday and yes it was DEC. 1 but that could have had easily been May 1), most of the people you meet same, same routine, same sh**, different day.

I hate same. Anyone who knows me knows I love change...the essence of change, the excitement of change. I get bored easily. I think this is the longest time I have ever lived in the same place since becoming an adult. I used to change apartments every year when the lease was up. I guess some of the only things I have that are the same are my dear friends from home. I like that they are the same...I don't want that to change at all.

A blog entry from 06/06/2007:

I went to MD over Memorial Day weekend and miss it and my friends and family. I loved seeing my girl friends' children. I loved the idea of their kids all growing up together. I want that for my children- Okay enough boo hoo sob story for me. Chris says in about 3 years...For me to stop spending so much money and we can move :) So I guess I just have to be patient... I WANT TO GO NOW!

A blog entry from 05/11/2008:

The Chris and Francie Wood family is moving from Jacksonville FL. The way things look now 1/7th of the Chris and Francie Wood family will be living in NJ and working there. The other 6/7ths of the Chris and Francie Wood family will be living near family in MD. And while we will miss the help and silliness of the other 1/7th while he is at work during the week, we think it is best for the other 6/7ths of us to be surrounded by friends and family in a place we are comfortable and happy....And Daisy (one of their dogs) will probably stop eating and be depressed b/c she won't be living full time with (her boyfriend I mean) Chris.

The husband, Christopher Wood, worked at CSX, the railroad company, as an accountant and was transferring to a job with more responsibilities in New Jersey.

He (her son Chandler) doesn't do change well but neither does Chris. Chris is trying to adjust but he is having a hard time with the new job which makes him more of a major player at work. More of a mover and a shaker. Which neither he would ever volunteer to be. While the change Chandler is going through I worry somewhat about the change Chris is experiencing I embrace. He needed to be out of his comfort zone for a while. It is currently causing him stress which in turn causes me stress but in a good way. And he sees that this move is for the best. I know he worries that the kids won't grow up right next to their grand parents and that he is travelling may keep him away from them too much...But I think we should focus on Quality over Quantity.

Her last blog entry on 04/01/09:

I am thinking that Chris and I will never agree on a new house to buy.

Apparently, he had been just coming home on weekends. The personal and financial stress certainly must have increased. The family was in Maryland, he was in New Jersey. Maybe he didn't want to leave Florida, but she wanted change. They couldn't agree on the purchase of a new house. If Wood was outside of his comfort zone and he had underlying psychological problems, he could have snapped. I wonder if it could have been like Captain Jeffrey MacDonald? From the news reports, no one had heard from Francie since Thursday evening. She didn't drop her kids off at school on Friday. Her father became concerned and went to the house on Saturday morning and discovered the gruesome scene. Wood could have been in the house all along with the bodies until he decided to take his life.