Mark Storm

Overview

Mark Storm checked himself out of a psychiatric ward and proceeded to kill five family members and himself on the same day. He was a riverboat pilot on leave from his job.

Background

Mark Storm had checked into the Ohio Valley Medical Center the Sunday before the killings, complaining of stress and panic disorder. He was taking three different types of medication. Police said Storm suffered from stress, and they also said they did not know why he was being treated at the Hillcrest Behavioral Health Services at Ohio Valley Medical Center. Police did not have a motive for the shootings.

The offence

After checking out of the mental-health facility, Mark Storm shot his wife, Betty Storm, 26, in the living room. He then shot his daughters, Jessica Storm and Megan Storm, as they lay in their bunk beds. Police said he drove about 2 miles to his mother’s house, where he shot his brother, Benjamin Storm, 32, and his mother, Roberta Nyles / Roberta Myles, 59.

Mark Storm then went to his favorite childhood fishing spot on the Ohio River and shot himself in the head with the last bullet in his 9-millimeter semiautomatic pistol.

All six died from gunshots to the head.

Investigation

Police said Mark Storm used a 9mm handgun. The weapon was bought “last June” at a local gun shop.

Chief of Police Ed Long said:

“It looks like he was intent on killing himself. The last bullet was the one he used on himself,”

Police had no motive for the shootings, and they did not know why Storm was being treated at Hillcrest Behavioral Health Services at Ohio Valley Medical Center.

Lt. Michael Whalen said:

“He tried to call the Storm house and got no answer,”

“So, he walked over to check the house, and when he opened the front door, he saw Betty Storm lying on the living room floor in a pool of blood.”

Events leading to the shootings

Mark Storm checked himself out on March 7, 1997, of a psychiatric ward in Wheeling, West Virginia, and then made plans for a follow-up visit. That afternoon he talked on the telephone with his brother and mother, who were concerned about his well being and wanted him committed.

He then went with his family to a party for a neighbor’s daughter. James Gallaher, a neighbor and host of the party, said:

“seemed to be stressed out and quiet”

Gallaher said:

“We’re grieving. They’re our good buddies,”

Police said Storm left the party after only half an hour, and later he shot his wife and daughters.

A neighbor, Jeanine Wiselka, said Benjamin Storm’s girlfriend ran from the house yelling for someone to call police and then said:

“He’s got a gun!”

Wiselka said she then heard two shots being fired in the home.

Locations

The killings occurred at the family home and at Benjamin Storm’s home on Wheeling Island. Mark Storm shot himself outside his brother’s home on an island in the Ohio River 50 miles southwest of Pittsburgh. Police pulled Storm’s body from the water at the same spot he fished at as a child.

Deaths

Mark Storm killed five family members and himself.

• Betty Storm, 26
• Jessica Storm, 8
• Megan Storm, 3
• Benjamin Storm, 32
• Roberta Nyles / Roberta Myles, 59
• Mark Storm (killed himself by shooting himself in the head)

Aftermath and additional details

In the trunk of his car, police found a load of Girl Scout cookies awaiting delivery by his older daughter.

Mark Storm had checked in Saturday and signed himself out Thursday morning, Gallaher told police.

Timeline

• March 7, 1997 — Mark Storm checked himself out of a psychiatric ward in Wheeling, West Virginia, and proceeded to kill five family members and himself.