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Matthew Magdzas, Iraq Vet, Kills Family in Murder Suicide

by Amy Judd | August 19, 2010 at 03:40 pm

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Matthew Magdzas Shot and Killed His Pregnant Wife, Their 13-Month-Old Daughter Lila, Their Three Dogs and Then Himself

The reason behind the tragic murder suicide that has left an entire family dead is not known and police report that no suicide note has been found. Friends and family who are devastated by the news say that they did not think the couple were having any marital problems or that they were under any undue stress from the upcoming birth of their daughter.

Matthew Magdzas was a 23-year-old Wisconsin National Guard soldier who served in the Iraq war and received a combat badge according to the Associated Press. His pregnant wife April Oles-Magdzas was due to give birth to their second daughter on Wednesday, but authorities think the killings occurred sometime on Tuesday. It was April's mother who discovered the bodies when she came to the couples' house in Wisconsin on Wednesday.

Investigators will now be looking at Magdzas' medical records to see if he was being treated for, or had showed signs of post traumatic stress disorder; those details will not be released to the public as the military does not disclose health records.

The family has not commented on the deaths, but a friend of April's, 36-year-old Tessa Buscko spoke briefly to the AP:

"He must have had a flashback or something. I don't know. That's crazy. Matt doesn't seem like that type of person," Buscko said. "The only thing people can think of is coming back from the war and trying to live a normal life."

Magdzas volunteered to deploy to Iraq in 2006 with the 121st Field Artillery Regiment where he was tasked with protecting convoys moving from Kuwait into the northern region of Iraq. He received a combat action badge for his actions during a 'small-arms' battle in November 2006 when he was serving as a vehicle gunner.

According to the AP, Magdzas worked for a company called Better Defense when he returned from the war and he gave classes on how to properly operate a firearm.

Friends and people in the community that knew both April and Matthew describe them as friendly and loving people, with April being known for her passion and desire to work with young people.

A 9-mm handgun was found in the house that investigators believe was the murder weapon, but that has not been confirmed at this time.

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Sharon Kolb (not verified)

at 13:05 on August 20th, 2010

This is extremely heart beaking. My granddaughter and greatgranddaughter Raquell and Kyrista Lynch were just murdered April 24 and found on April 26 in Ankorage, AK. by Raquell's husband an Army soldier in Ft. Richardson, AK. Kip, tried to commite suicide. As of now Kip Lynch is in jail waiting trial in Oct. He does not remember killing them, due to his injury. It is felt the main factor is from his tour in Afghanistan. Something is wrong that this is happening to so many families. WHY. My heart goes out to this family. The hurt does not go away.

jungle jane (not verified)

at 13:00 on October 15th, 2010

Opednews.com had an article dated today, that could be important information concerning psychoactive drugs, SSRIantidepressants...."Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va. called the one of every six troops who are now on psychoactive drugs "pretty astounding and also very troubling," in Senate hearings this year and Retired Col. Bart Billings, a former Army psychologist who has also testified before Congress, says, "I feel flat out that psychiatrists are directly responsible for deaths in our military, for some of these suicides," in a March Marine Times article. "I think it's criminal, what they are doing."Also see: "Over 4,000 published reports of violent and bizarre behavior of people affected by antidepressants on the web archive ssristories.com reveal the same out of character violence and self harm in civilians, currently seen in the military. "