‘Defies understanding’: Father kills wife and three children

A father shot and killed his wife before hunting down and murdering his three children in a massacre that “defies understanding”.

A father who police say shot his wife and three of their kids dead before turning the gun on himself could be seen smiling and joking in an interview taken two years before the harrowing murders.

Jonathon Candy, 42, was found dead at his home on Monday morning along with his wife Lindsay, 39, and their sons Dylan, 18, Ethan, 14, and Lucas, 12, The US Sun reports.

The horrific shootings were carried out at the home in Yukon, Oklahoma - a suburb of Oklahoma City in the US - and were confirmed by Oklahoma City Police Department Sergeant Gary Knight at an emotional press conference on Tuesday.

Jonathon Candy appeared on a TV show with his wife Lindsay years before he brutally murdered her and three of their children. Picture: Discover Oklahoma.

Lindsay and Jonathon’s youngest child, a 10-year-old boy, called police after waking up that morning and finding their bodies, according to Oklahoma City Police Department.

Just two years earlier, the parents appeared happy together as they gave an interview helping to showcase a local bakery and deli.

The program, Discover Oklahoma, highlighted Just Baked Bakery and Deli, a family-owned store rated as the best deli in Yukon, located just 20 minutes outside of Oklahoma City.

“I come here twice a week in the morning just for their breakfast burritos, which are by far anything better than you can get around here,” Jonathon said in the episode, which aired on November 26, 2022.

Jonathon Candy fatally shot his sons after murdering his wife following an argument. Picture: Facebook

He went on to praise the establishment for its wide variety of food as his wife nodded in agreement.

“I love carrot cake. I don’t eat a lot of sweets, even with my last name,” he joked as his wife laughed beside him.

“But I love the carrot cake.”

Lindsay chimed in as well, saying, “I like the cannoli. The cannolis are good.”

Investigators say Jonathon “became involved in an altercation” with his wife and shot her several times.

After this, investigators say he “systematically” went through the house and fatally shot three of their four children.

A motive for the murders is unclear at this time but police are still investigating.

“Make no mistake. What happened in that residence was nothing short of a massacre,” said Oklahoma City Police Sgt Gary Knight at a press conference.

“The children were hunted down and killed.”

The couple’s youngest son was the sole survivor of the horrific rampage. Picture: Supplied

Waking nightmare

Police found the bodies of Jonathon and Lindsay inside their home on Monday morning.

All five bodies were found scattered throughout the house, according to detectives.

Two of the family members were found upstairs and another two were on the ground floor.

At least one of their three children was killed in their bed, said police.

The youngest son and sole survivor had his door shut and a box fan running in his room, which investigators believe protected him from the sounds.

It’s unclear why the young child was spared from the murders.

“In the end, nobody’s going to know the answer to that,” Sgt Knight said at the press conference.

It’s also not clear if the shooting was premeditated or spontaneous, said police.

The OCPD said there was no history of police responding to the Candy home and there were no calls involving domestic abuse.

Police have not revealed information about the weapon involved or where in the home it was found.

The Candys’ surviving son is currently staying with a relative following the horrific crime, according to police.

An investigation is still ongoing as police determine a motive. Picture: ABC 5

‘Defies understanding’

According to a LinkedIn profile, Jonathon was a video engineer for Cox Media.

He also worked part-time at Paycom Center, the home venue for the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team, said police.

Jonathon was present at Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans hours before the horrific shooting, friends and neighbours told ABC affiliate KOCO-TV.

All three of the children were enrolled in the same school district at the time of the murders.

Mustang Public Schools superintendent Charles Bradley said they would provide resources for students.

“This tragedy simply defies understanding,” Supt Bradley said.

“Our Crisis Response Team has been present at schools today and will continue to be in place moving forward for as long as they are needed.”

Oklahoma Baptist University shared on social media that Dylan had been a student at the school.

“The OBU family mourns the sudden loss of our fellow Bison, Dylan Candy. While his time on Bison Hill was short, he will be remembered by many, especially his fellow members of the Bison Brigade,” OBU said in a statement.

The teen graduated from Mustang Public Schools in 2023.

‘Assumed everything was fine’

The tragedy has left an entire community reeling.

“Him and his kids seemed like they always got along. He just was just a family man,” neighbour and friend Michael Burcham told KOCO-TV of Jonathon.

“I mean, I never expected this.”

“We’re just in total shock. The kids were real friendly. Everybody loved the kids. Swam here at his house regularly. They played with my dog.”

Mr Burcham did reference that Jonathon dealt with depression.

However, police have not confirmed this detail.

“We assumed that everything was fine other than his depression,” Mr Burcham said.

“If somebody needed something, and he had a shop in the back. I needed something to load one day. Called him and he said, ‘Yeah, I’ll do it for you.’ That’s the kind of person he was.

“I just question everything,” Mr Burcham continued.

“Something was going on behind scenes that no one knew.”

This story was published by The US Sun and reproduced with permission