DREXEL HILL, Pa. (AP) – Two children taken from a Philadelphia-area home after a woman was slain were found safe in New York City early Thursday and a man in a vehicle that was sought by police was found dead, authorities said.
Police were called around 2:30 a.m. Thursday to a home in Drextel Hill, Pennsylvania, where they found a blood trail on the front step. Inside the residence, they found the body of 28-year-old Christina Belajonas, who lived there with her sons, 5-year-old Robert and 4-year-old Christopher, according to Superintendent Michael Chitwood of Upper Darby police.
Chitwood said initial indications were that she had been shot in the head and had multiple stab wounds.
A neighbor reported seeing Keith Belajonas leaving the house with the boys.
“One of the two boys was overheard to say ‘Is Mommy dead?'” Chitwood said.
An Amber Alert was issued. Around 6 a.m., the children were left at a CVS on Staten Island. They appeared to be unharmed, but were taken to a hospital to be checked, New York City police Lt. Thomas Antonetti said.
A short time later, a man in the missing vehicle was found dead on Staten Island of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, Antonetti said. Chitwood said he was told it was the suspect,
Chitwood said police were investigating whether Keith Belajonas was responsible for a posting on a social media site about a dispute with the victim.
“Had an argument with her. She was cheating on me. I won,” the Facebook posting said, according to Chitwood.