A family of five found who was found burned to death in their Massachusetts home Wednesday morning was the result of a quadruple murder-suicide carried out by the father, according to reports.
Citing sources, WBZ-TV first reported Thursday that Luke Karpinski, 41, is believed to have stabbed his wife, Justine Wilbur, 41, on the first floor of their Sheffield home before starting a fire that killed them, their 7-year-old twins, Alex and Zoe, son Marek, 3, and two dogs. Authorities are reportedly searching for a motive.
Karpinski and his three children’s bodies were reportedly found on the second floor. Sources also told the news station that gasoline was possibly used to start the blaze.
The Times Union reported that Wilbur was a senior associate at for Hoffman Warnick, where she worked as a patent attorney since 2017. Before joining Hoffman Warnick, Wilbur was reportedly a scientist who managed a team focused on cancer drug research.
Karpinski was a federal chemical patent examiner who worked from home, according to The Berkshire Eagle. Wilbur’s sister said they began dating as seniors in high school and had moved to Massachusetts in 2017, after working in Virginia for six years.
“They were smart, intelligent, good people—and good parents. And the kids were so cute,” she said of her late sister and brother-in-law. “It’s very sad. My father passed away five years ago, so that just leaves me and my mother.”
This is a developing story. Be sure to check back with CrimeOnline for updates as they become available.
[Featured image: Luke Karpinski, Justine Wilbur/WBZ-TV video screengrab]
