By Travis Measley | Published Sunday, June 14, 2009
Wise County Sheriff David Walker said Friday that alcohol and prescription medication may have played a large part in the apparent murder-suicide of brothers Jason, 33, and Jeremy Stanford, 27, late Monday night.
"There were some pill bottles around the room, and from what we found on scene, a large amount of alcohol had been consumed," Walker said.
Jeremy died from a stab wound to the chest, inflicted by Jason, and police found Jason with self-inflicted cuts on his wrists.
Walker said they are still awaiting a toxicology report to determine if Jason's death was the result of an overdose or the wrist wounds.
Authorities also found an apology note written by Jason that indicated a fight had broken out between the two and that Jason stabbed Jeremy in the chest.
"The note pretty much explained what happened between the two, spelling out that they had started to fight over something, and Jason stabbed Jeremy," Walker said.
Walker said he had not found out if the two had a history of violence between them, but Jason had a long history of mental illness.
Officers responded to the home on U.S. 81/287 north of Decatur, around 11:30 p.m. Monday after the sheriff's office received a call from a family friend who had not been able to reach Jeremy Stanford.
