In the quiet community of Harleysville, Pennsylvania, the life of 33-year-old Nicole Hill Stone was cut tragically short on Monday, December 15, 2014. A devoted mother to her two young daughters, Shannon and Kayla, Nicole was known for her love of nature and camping with family and friends. However, her life was overshadowed by a contentious custody battle with her ex-husband, Bradley William Stone, a 35-year-old former Marine. Friends and neighbors recalled Nicole expressing deep fear for her life, stating that she believed he was going to kill her.
The horrifying events unfolded in the pre-dawn hours, part of a violent rampage that spanned three locations in Montgomery County. Bradley Stone first went to the Souderton home of Nicole's sister, Patricia Flick, where he killed Patricia, her husband Aaron, and their 14-year-old daughter, Nina. He then proceeded to the Lansdale home of Nicole's mother, Joanne Gilbert, and grandmother, Patricia Hill, and killed them both. The final act of his brutal spree was at Nicole's apartment in Harleysville. Neighbors were awakened by the sound of breaking glass and gunshots. An autopsy would later reveal that Nicole Hill Stone died from multiple gunshot wounds.
Following the murder of his ex-wife, Bradley Stone took their two daughters and dropped them off unharmed with a neighbor before fleeing. This act triggered a massive manhunt for Stone, who was considered armed and dangerous. The search for the suspect, who was known to sometimes use a cane or walker, involved multiple law enforcement agencies and caused widespread fear in the community. The search concluded two days later when Stone's body was discovered in a wooded area near his home in Pennsburg. The cause of his death was ruled a suicide from a drug overdose. No arrests were made as the sole suspect had taken his own life. The tragic event left three children orphaned and a community mourning the senseless loss of six family members.
