WASHINGTON – A man, woman and child were found dead in an Owings, Md., home Tuesday morning in what Calvert County Sheriff officials say was a murder-suicide.
Authorities believe Frank J. Hayward, Jr., 32, shot his wife, Cynthia M. Hayward, and their 2-year-old daughter, Natalee Hayward, before killing himself.
The family members were found in a home in the 1800 block of Candlelight Court, according to Calvert County Sheriff Mike Evans.
Deputies arrived at the house just after 8:30 Tuesday morning to find the home on fire, according to Evans. Inside they found the bodies of the man, his 31-year- old wife and child.
They also found 12-year-old Frank Hayward III who was injured. He was flown to a local hospital with critical injuries, Evans says. The boy is being treated for burns and lacerations to his neck. Police say he was not shot.
Evans confirmed that some of the victims were shot, but could not say how all the family members died. Investigators say they found a handgun in the home.
WTOP has learned Cynthia Hayward requested a protective order hearing September 13, 2007 against her husband. The proceedings concluded three days later. There is no record of how the hearing concluded.
Cynthia Hayward filed for a “limited” divorce from Frank Hayward, Jr., on June 6, 2007 in Anne Arundel County.
According to Anne Arundel County Courts, in a limited divorce, the couple is technically married and neither can remarry. The couple lives separately without interference from the spouse. The courts can use a decree of limited divorce to issue orders that provide for child custody, support and the division of some assets while a final divorce is pending.
The home the Hayward family lived in was on the market. They purchased the home in 2010 and listed it in the spring of 2012.
WTOP’s Darci Marchese contributed to this report. Follow Darci and WTOP on Twitter.
(Copyright 2012 by AP and WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
