More details of the Montana murder-suicide Sunday have surfaced, as provided by Anaconda-Deer Lodge County officials Monday. The Montana murder-suicide occurred as a father shot and killed his wife and three children, before setting fire to the family's cabin and then killing himself.

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The shooting took place at the family's cabin home along the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, located about 15 miles southeast of Deer Lodge town, according to Police Chief Tim Barkell.

The man, 59, began the crime by shooting his wife, 34, first at the home's kitchen table.

He then went outside and shot his two young children, aged four and six. He then went back inside the cabin and finished the crime by using the 45-caliber automatic pistol to kill the youngest of the family, a 1-year-old baby, inside a crib.

After killing all members of his family, he then placed the bodies of the two children next to the crib. Barclay said the body of his wife was later found at the kitchen.

Before setting fire to their home, the shooter first called a Deer Lodge acquaintance about 10 a.m. Sunday and confessed to the murders, also telling the friend that he would be setting the place on fire, said Assistant Police Chief Bill Sather.

The man burned the place by setting fire to a chair, afterwards committing suicide by shooting himself. The friend called 911, and by the time authorities arrived, there was too much smoke and heat to provide immediate entry.

Fire departments in four areas worked hand-in-hand to stop the blaze located mostly at the cabin's upper area, according to Reuters.

A day after the Montana murder-suicide, the cabin is seen circled with police tape. The Associated Press reported that the family had been living in the cabin for a couple of years, before moving to Montana from out of state.

It is unclear where the family originally came from. The names of the family members have not yet been released by authorities, pending information from next of kin.

On Sunday, the bodies were transported to the Montana State Crime Lab in Missoula for their autopsies. The question as to what motivated the man remains a mystery.

People acquainted with the family in Deer Lodge have expressed surprise and disbelief, according to the Montana Standard.

"She was just the nicest person," said Muriah Buck, owner of Muriah's of Montana Restaurant which the family frequented, of the mother. "We'd hold her baby for her so she could eat."

Buck added that the father was "very controlling. He would say, 'OK, it's time to leave.' She'd say quietly, 'But we haven't finished,' but they'd go ahead and leave," adding that "He had crazy eyes."

Tagsmontana murder-suicide, montana father kills family, Montana, Quadruple homicide, Deer Lodge county