Autopsy: Bradley Stone died from 'combined drug intoxication,' 'suicide'

PENNSBURG, Pa. (WPVI) -- Authorities say a man believed to have killed his ex-wife and five of her relatives earlier this month killed himself with a combination of drugs after the murders.

Montgomery County prosecutors and local police said in a statement Tuesday evening that the coroner had determined that 35-year-old Bradley Stone died of "combined drug intoxication" involving an antidepressant and an anti-psychotic medication. The death was ruled a suicide.

The body of Stone was found in a wooded area in Upper Hanover Township, outside of Pennsburg, Montgomery County, on Tuesday, December 16.

Law enforcement officials said Tuesday that a machete and an axe that both "appeared to be coated in blood" were found near his body, and police also found two medicine bottles, one of which contained a crushed-up powder, as well as an energy drink container that had powder around the lip. Officials said death was due to Trazodone, an antidepressant, Risperidone, an antipsychotics medication, and mCPP, which is used in psychiatric research but has also been used as a recreational drug.

A forensic examination determined that Stone, who had been locked in a five-year custody battle that sparked frequent calls to the police, had a deep stab wound to the upper thigh as well as three superficial cuts to the leg and hip and 10 scratches on his face and neck.

Prosecutors say 35-year-old Iraq war veteran Stone killed his ex-wife, Nicole Hill, and five of her family members.

Police say Stone first attacked the Flick family home on Penn Avenue in Souderton between 3:30 a.m. and 4:00 a.m.

Authorities say 36-year-old Trisha Flick, Nicole Hill's sister, 39-year-old Aaron Flick, and 14-year-old Nina Flick suffered gunshot and chopping wounds.

17-year-old Anthony Flick, who survived, suffered wounds to his head and hands. He was treated at an area hospital and was released on Monday.

Authorities say Stone then attacked Nicole Hill's mother Joanne Gilbert and grandmother Patricia Hill in their home on West 5th Street in Lansdale at approximately 4:25 a.m.

Police say Stone then murdered his ex-wife 33-year-old Nicole Hill with a gun at her home on Main Street in Lower Salford at approximately 4:55 a.m.

Police found a .40 caliber Heckler & Koch handgun at this crime scene.

Through ballistics analysis, it was determined that this handgun was the gun used at all three crime scenes.

Officials said that Stone was barred from having firearms following an October 2013 drunken-driving arrest, but lied to a military psychologist as recently as last month, stating that he didn't have any weapons.

Authorities said probation and parole officials made 17 home visits, seven of them unscheduled, during the past year, and none indicated that he might possess weapons or had violated his probation and parole. Officials said he bought three handguns during the past decade and a half, one of which was used in the killings and one of which is still unaccounted for.

People with three DUI convictions within five years are barred from possessing guns, but although Stone had three such convictions they were not within five years, authorities said. His ex-wife had obtained a temporary protection from abuse order in 2010 but was denied a permanent order, they said.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.