Man Leaves Striking Clue in Family Killing

[Miss Chybil]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050512/ap_on_re_us/ranch_killings

By GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press Writer
Wed May 11,11:12 PM ET

LOS ANGELES - A man who murdered five family members then shot himself to death left the haunting lyrics of a Grammy-winning song next to his computer and a note that read, "Woe is me. I'm looking forward to seeing you in the next life," authorities said Wednesday.

Investigators are still baffled about why David McGowan, a 44-year-old investigator for the Riverside County district attorney's office, killed his wife, mother and three children early Tuesday while they slept.

"This investigation is not complete. We're trying to figure out why this very tragic situation occurred," Riverside County Sheriff Bob Doyle said. "What was troubling this young man that he would do such a tragic thing?"

Investigators searching McGowan's sprawling, two-story ranch home about 100 miles southeast of Los Angeles found the typed lyrics of the Los Lonely Boys song "Heaven" next to his computer. The song is about being trapped and lost in life, and McGowan's note was on the same sheet of paper as the lyrics.

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050512/ap_on_re_us/ranch_killings

[LiberalVoice]

1. What a crappy song to use in your suicide note. nt

[dxdem]

3. Yeah.

Adam's Song, by Blink 182, is much better.

[KingOfLostSouls]

2. Freepers will blame mexicans

and call the minutemen on them.

[NNN0LHI]

4. Man leaves striking clue in family's murder-suicide: song lyrics

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/11626917.htm

LOS ANGELES - A model Riverside County employee who killed five family members in their sleep and then shot himself appeared to have a baffling lack of motive for the carnage, authorities said.

"It does not make any sense," county District Attorney Grover Trask said Wednesday at a news conference.

McGowan was a well-liked investigator with the DA's office. snip

The note also contained lyrics from the Grammy-winning hit single, "Heaven," by Los Lonely Boys, Riverside County Sheriff Bob Doyle said.

That song begins:

Save me from this prison

Lord, help me get away

'Cause only you can save me now

From this misery.

I've been lost in my own place

And I'm getting weary

How far is heaven?

more

http://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050512/NEWS0801/505120344

Sheriff: ‘He planned it’

Police: Investigator who killed his family, self left bloody footprints, copy of song lyrics behind

RIVERSIDE - The man authorities say was behind one of the largest mass killings in Riverside County's history left behind bloody footprints, lyrics to a pop song and little else to indicate motive for the slayings.

What is clear is that early Tuesday morning David McGowan, an investigator for the Riverside County district attorney and 15-year Cathedral City Police veteran, enacted a violent plan that resulted in the death of his wife, mother, three children and himself, according to the sheriff. snip

They said someone had added their own words to the song that includes the words, "Lord help me get away/Cause only you can save me now from this misery."

In addition to the lyrics, the words, "Woe is me. I'm looking forward to seeing you in the next life," had been added, authorities said.

more

[luvLLB]

5. This one really upsets me...from my screen name you see why.

:cry:

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. I love them too

best new band in years. This is horrible that this guy used their song as a suicide note.

We have tickets to go see them in August. :woohoo:

[luvLLB]

18. not me...

:cry:

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. Aren't they from Texas?

They will be in Fort Worth on July 4.

http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/los_lonely_boys/tours.jhtml

Or you could come up to KC to see them in August.

[0007]

7. Perhaps this song would have been more appropriate

Row, row, row your boat, Gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily,
merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream. ...

[hippiechick]

6. .. here come the anti-music industry fundies ...

... now I guess we'll have to ban Latino pop, huh ? :eyes:


{BTW, I love that song !}

[Demeter]

8. He Was Living in California

Reason enough.

[question everything]

9. Song may be clue to slaying of family

Los Angeles Daily News

Song may be clue to slaying of family

By Gillian Flaccus
Associated Press

Thursday, May 12, 2005 - David McGowan left one clue for friends desperate to understand why he killed five family members, including three of his children, then shot himself: the haunting lyrics of the Los Lonely Boys hit single, "Heaven."

Investigators searching McGowan's sprawling, two-story ranch home in rural Riverside County found the lyrics of the Grammy-winning song next to his computer.

Authorities said Wednesday the well-liked investigator for the Riverside County District Attorney's Office had added his own words to the song about being trapped and lost in life: "Woe is me. I'm looking forward to seeing you in the next life."

Investigators said they were baffled about why McGowan, 44, killed his wife, mother and three children early Tuesday while they slept in their beds.

More..
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~20954~2864795,00.html#

[Goblinmonger]

10. Lets see who they would blame if I did something

I have all of the following "next to my computer" right now. (I have a lot more, but these are the ones that give the best targets)

Magic 8 Ball
Red Swingline Stapler (yeah, baby, I know you are jealous)
James Joyce short story
Lovecraft short story
Roald Dahl short story
Of Mice and Men (OK, I'm a literature teacher)
South Park Chef Aid CD
They Might Be Giants Dial-A-Song Collection
Toni Morrison novel

My guess is that this guy was just fucked up; why do we need to bring some musical group into that equation?

[Straight Shooter]

12. I have a phone directory next to my computer.

Maybe they should contact everyone in it and find out why I did what I did.

They're trying to get the rubber-neckers to look again at this tragic situation and create more gossip. Disgusting.

[freedom_to_read]

14. in that case

I'd have to blame it on Lovecraft.

Cthulhu made you do it!

[leesa]

11. Oh right. It couldn't possibly be the fact that we worship violence

in this country. I blame the Republican party and their continuous desire for irrational violence.

[MADem]

13. It has a creepy similarity to another case

That of John List...only this guy had more balls than List, in that he killed himself. List killed his family because of religious reasons (he thought this was a wicked world, the putz!) scampered off, changed his name, and started a new life. He was caught, oddly enough, by America's Most Wanted, who put a bust of him created by the highly regarded Frank Bender, age-enhanced, on TV. It was quite an astounding feat, as the case was so cold, even though they knew who did it, they didn't have any real hope of finding the guy. Read all about it here: http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/family/list/1.html?sect=11

[K8-EEE]

15. Another Xtian Wacko

Believe me if it had been a Muslim, Hindu or any other not "judeo Christian" doing something like this to meet up in the afterlife they would be talking about how creepy the religion is. But since it's Krish-tunn heaven the guy wants to meet up in, well...that's different.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[daleo]

19. This isn't that uncommon.

It seems crazier when a mother does it, but both mothers and fathers do this with distressing regularity. It seems like when a depressed father does it, he takes wife, kids, and sometimes others with him, whereas when a depressed mother does it she just takes the kids with her to "heaven". I doubt that the song is really much of a clue.

[NoSunWithoutShadow]

20. I think you're right

It sounds like he was trapped by his major depression.

[LiberallyInclined]

21. i wonder who they got to identify the bodies?

i hope this isn't the David McGowan i went to jr. high with- i'm 44 too.