Oklahoma murder-suicide: Neighbors of Jonathon Candy thought he was 'family man' who loved his children

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

YUKON, OKLAHOMA: A 10-year-old boy found his parents and three brothers dead in what seemed like a murder-suicide. The horrifying incident has left neighbors of the family in utter shock. 

They expressed surprise at the crime, describing the perpetrator as a "family man" who was devoted to his children.

According to Oklahoma City police, the minor boy stumbled upon his deceased family members on the morning of Monday, April 22, after Jonathon Candy, 42, fatally shot his wife and three sons before taking his own life. 

The police expressed bewilderment as to why he spared the life of his 10-year-old son.

Neighbor Michael Burcham was left in ‘total shock’ after crime

According to Yahoo News, Michael Burcham, a neighbor and friend of the Candy family, described the news as a "total shock." 

Further, Burcham added, "The kids were real friendly, Everybody loved the kids. Swam here at his house regularly. They played with my dog," KOCO reported.

Burcham claimed that Jonathon Candy was a kind person and added, "We assumed that everything was fine other than his depression. If somebody needed something, and he had a shop in the back. I needed something to load one day. Called him and he said, 'Yeah, I'll do it for you.' That's the kind of person he was."

Additionally, Burcham referred to Candy as a "family man." He added, "Him and his kids seemed like they always got along."

Brian Graham, another neighbor, stated that the Yukon community is grieving after the loss of the Candy family. "They were great family. They come down all the time. We kind of had hangouts together… Their kids were their kids friends, like best best friends. So, they enjoyed being with each other and they all went to school together… We really are going to miss them. We really wish this wouldn’t have happened.”

How did a family member react to the deaths?

A member of Jonathon Candy's family said, "Our entire family has been left shattered and confused with so many questions we won’t ever have answers to. Jonathon was the one whose jokes and goofy attitude kept everyone smiling."

They added, "Aside from these events, his children and wife were his entire life. I simply can’t fathom what went on but please, hug your family tight. It’s going to be a very long healing process for everyone affected," the WFLA reported.

Jonathon Candy and Lindsay Candy didn't have a history of domestic violence

On April 22, around 9:35 in the morning, a 10-year-old boy called the Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD).

He told them that several people were dead inside a home on Mirage Street in the 2800 block of Czech Hall Estates.

When the police arrived, they found five people dead, all of them had been shot. The boy was standing outside the house. He was not hurt and later went to stay with a family member.

At a press conference, OCPD Sergeant Gary Knight said Jonathon Candy had an argument with his wife Lindsay during the night and shot her many times.

Then, he shot and killed his children. The children were found in different parts of the house, with two upstairs and two downstairs.

The police found at least one child shot while in bed. The police said the children were "hunted down and killed."

The police are still trying to find out why Jonathon Candy did this, and if he planned it or did it suddenly.

Knight said he didn't know why the 10-year-old boy was not hurt, saying, "No one will ever know the answer to that."

But he said, "What happened in that house was a massacre." Knight also said the couple had never had problems with the police before or any reports of domestic violence.