I can't help but wonder if the father was on anti-depressants, or recently stopped taking anti-depressants. And if we'll ever find out.

How incredibly heartbreaking. It's so much more devastating to read about these killings when we can also access a bit of the victims' lives via the Internet. I read through the mother's blog and she seems like such a wonderful person, and her children are absolutely gorgeous. I'm so sorry for her family and friends, the grandparents, everyone who knew them and who have now lost them forever.

[I saw that Francie and Chris had a dog and a cat (Chris didn't murder them). A news article stated that the dog was taken in by the local Animal Control -- I wonder if they also have the cat. Poor animals. Hopefully they'll be adopted into new homes.]

Believe me, none of us who knew Francie and her family are thinking "oh God, not another murder-suicide". :-(

David... there are many of us who have also thought of the possibility that Chris was taking SSRIs and abruptly stopped without or against a doctor's guidance.

NOTE FROM STEVE: I wasn't directing my comments at people who knew the Woods, of course, but to the general reader. I don't know what to say to you, either, except that I can't imagine how awful it is to get news of something like this.

I just finished reading her blog and quite honestly, there are no words. To see the pictures of her children and to read the words she wrote about her life...my God. I cannot imagine the thoughts that went threw her head when it all started to horrifically come to an end. I truly do not understand how a parent can do that to their children. It is simply beyond my understanding. And I feel so badly for the family left a live who has to find a way to figure this out in their own minds so that they can have some sort of a life in the aftermath.

Truly tragic. There are more cases of this recently, as the unwinding of the great economic bubble causes not just financial pain, but human pain.

Don't be so quick to analyze and condemn the father/husband in this scenario. Without the full posession of the facts, one can only guess the path he walked and from where. It is a sad tragedy indeed, but my educated guess is - that these murder/suicide scenarios will increase in this already crumbling society - which can at best - be loosely termed civil(ization). We live in an era bereft of a moral cohesive standard, rather it is an era epidemic with narcissitic sociopaths - and why the rise? Just look around you - we are either part of the solution or part of the problem.

You have to wonder how many women sleep beside a man capable of such horrendous acts. I'm betting it's a lot, and I don't think the lousy economy is to blame. I can almost understand using a gun out of desperation/depression/grief, but to hack and slash your own flesh and blood while they fight back, cry and beg for their lives? That takes a special kind of crazy. Poor Francie, poor little kids. Why couldn't the stupid Adam-Henry just go off himself?

This is just devastating.

IMO, lots of people quit taking anti-depressants without murdering their entire family.

And I completely agree with everything Anne said.

Guy was a coward.

There was a big surge in family killings when the Great Depression hit and I think economics has a lot to do with what we are seeing now. Just wait until Christmas!

Lots of people may quit medications w/o killing their family (me included), but a disproportionate number of people who flip out and kill lots of people have had issues with their medication. According to this link, this guy is one of those: http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/04/21/maryland.family.shot/index.html

I think we need to take a careful look at whether certain drugs may be pushing people over the edge.

This guy was not just a coward, but a real ego maniac to believe his family could'nt survive without him! Seems to me that he was making 90+k per year and was 400+k in debt, well that sounds like the norm to me, 90+k is double what my family makes, and 400k it double our debt, Big deal! We live for and through our children and my only fear is that we won't be there one day for them, but to use the economy as an excuse to off your family??? Hope he burns eternally, those kids looked so happy, and they deserved better than this!! If you plan to do yourself in, please do it to yourself, leave the rest of us alone, including your kids!!!!

What happened is a tragedy, but who are we to judge? There is not one person who hasn't done something that they regretted. Was it depression, finances, job, medication? Not one of us really knows. Was what he did wrong? Absolutely, but before you judge him, look at your own life. Have you ever done anything to hurt anyone? Have you ever lied to someone? Stolen from someone? In our minds as humans, a lie is nothing compared to murder, but as I said originally, who are we to judge? Think about his family that is still living and how your words may be hurting them. Think about how you would feel if someone in your family did this. They have enough heartache to deal with, don't make it worse for them.

Kimberly sounds like the type of person who would ignore the signs that this was comming and allow this to happen to someone they love before she passes "judgement". Give me a break!!! I'll pass judgement, this psycho killed his family for no good reason! I'll bet there were plenty of people who knew him and thought something was wrong but were afraid to pass judgement, P-LEASE, take a look at your neighbors and family and friends, if you think something is wrong, pry a little, the life you save could be you own, or your kid's! As I said before, if you are the one with the problem and wish to shorten your already short time here on Earth, then seek help, or if you wish to do it, do it to yourself, not your family, think of the potential those kids had, how sad the world has become! B.I.H. C. Wood, R.I.P. Francie and kids.

I'm sorry, but if someone in my family did this, I'd be the first one screaming about it, not making excuses for the person.

I don't care what the reason or excuse is, the guy was a COWARD. I'm so tired of people making excuses for why people do heinous things. And I will judge. Period.

Francie was my second cousin and as Im reading all of the comments made from the general public I am torn on how to react. It is obvious that Chris made a horrible decision and not only were 5 lives lost, but families left behind to try and make sense of it all.

Nobody is justifying what Chris did, and even our family doesnt know how he arrived in such a dark desperate place that he felt he had no choice.

This isnt a case of someone being naive or too afraid to speak up against Chris, the matter of fact is that in present times almost EVERYONE is experiencing life struggles and major difficulties with figuring it all out. These are desperate times and that is VERY scary. But it is completely reasonable the Francie could not anticipate this from the man she loved.

And the fact that our family and his have come together to mourn the loss of the ENTIRE family shows that forgivness is possible and necessary to move on. They will always be loved and missed and I am not downplaying this tragic choice he made, yet it is not for us to judge. Only God is righteous to judge, only he knows what filled Chris heart at that exact moment.

I just ask that you please remember that family and friends of the deceased read these articles, and remember that the public does not know the intimate details of their family, their life or the crimes. Each is entitled to their opinions but all of the bashing of Chris is hurtful and even Francie would be upset by this.

But all of the support and encouragment from the public is greatly appreciated. Thank you

Michelle, kudos to both of your families being able to come together at a time like this. You all are better than me if you are able to forgive this horrific act. I don't think I'd be able to you.

My thoughts and prayers are with all of you and I hope that someday you get the answers you may be looking for.

My husband told me about this case in passing and I googled to find out more about it. To date, this tragedy has not left my mind, and reading her blog only makes me sadder. It is such a tragedy in every sense of the word. I cannot fathom what would possess a husband and father who had no history of violence to kill those whom they love the most. It is during tough times you would think people would retreat into their families. My gut emotion, of course, is to condemn the husband. It is only natural because we as strangers don't know what made him do the heinous act that he did, but I am not sure if this man fits the typical profile, and that's what makes it chilling. I can also say that I would not blame the economy. This is not the result of the economy, because he had a well paying job and was in no jeopardy of being laid off. It is my belief that this man snapped -- he had reached a stress threshold that was too much for him to handle. A brutal case of passive-aggressiveness. From the online accounts, he appeared to be passive, perhaps quiet, whereas Francie was outgoing, assertive, and forward. Therefore, whatever problems he was experiencing he kept inside rather than strongly expressing them. Maybe he would drop hints here and there but no one knew the turmoil that was within. This isn't any partner's fault, but rather an assessment here. I'm thinking that communication and counseling could have saved their lives rather than solely taking medications.

And my heart goes out to the survivors of this tragedy, and I truly do hope Francie and the children are at a better place. I just can't get them out of my mind or heart, and wish there was something I could do or could have done for them. Such innocent lives ended.

Thank you for your comments, Michelle. And please accept my condolences.

I never knew Francie and Chris and thier children, but based on what I've read on Francie's blog and Facebook page, I believe had I known them, my wife, three children and I would have been friends with them.

Because of that feeling, I guess I feel particularly moved by this tragedy and particularly hurt by the harsh comments I've read online toward Mr. Wood. It's obvious something happened to him that night that most of us will never comprehend. He succumbed to such a dark place that was disconnected from his family, friends, himself, and the divine, we'll never be able to grasp what caused him to do what he did.

Still, he seemed like a good dad and husband from what I've read. He had issues with depression and anxiety, which can leave one feeling profoundly alienated from the sources of meaning that are readily available to all of us. I didn't know Mr. Wood, but I've winced at comments about him that I've read online.

I can understand the anger and dismay people feel toward him, but I think people need to understand that he had to have already been in a kind of mental hell to do what he did. He wasn't a monster or egotist or whatever. Through various influences (mental, financial, etc.), he just became absorbed by something that took him beyond the loving person he really seemed to be.

What's needed here is compassion, not judgment or nasty comments. At the very least, people should remember, as Michelle points out, Mr. Wood's family members may read what you post. Please have some consideration for them.

Michelle my heart and my prayers go out to you and your family.

I agree with dino- one is absolutely NUTS if they are unable to "judge' this situation in some way and at the very least condemn that it was very wrong to murder innocent family members in cold blood. Whether any family members are reading comments or not is no matter- what happens deserves examination so that others can possibly wake up and read the signs , and often there certainly are signs, well before the crack up. In a "dark place", my ass. And yes, one aspect to become aware of is whether meds repress and push down normal emotional feelings instead of bringing any true healing whatsoever (boys and girls: key word- whether ), thus leading to utter crack ups like this.

Warning:
Anti-Depressants and Anti-Psychotics are mind-altering drugs and are more times than not, prescribed for uses they are not approved for by the FDA, and can have serious behavioral side effects. (ie, drugs such as Lexapro which are approved by the FDA for Major Depressive Disorder are routinely prescribed for mild to moderate depression.) In most circumstances, you will be held fully accountable for any criminal acts you commit while taking these drugs, to include, drunk or impaired driving, injurious behavior towards yourself or others, theft, murder, etc. Millions of people are currently incarcerated or deceased due to incidents while taking or withdrawing from these drugs. Your doctor, the FDA, and the makers of these drugs are not held accountable to patients, only to government agencies whom can fine them, no matter how gross their mis-conduct is. You should consult with an attorney after reading the possible side effects BEFORE starting any new prescriptions because these drugs are also highly addictive and once taken, cannot be discontinued in any time short of months. (The poster of this warning does not claim to be an attorney or know the law .)