About an hour later, Mason Police found Brian Dunn dead at 811 Trustway Court. Police said he suffered “a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the head.”
Candi Dunn died from a gunshot wound, according to an autopsy report released by the Butler County Coroner’s Office.
The couple was married with three children, but in the middle of a contentious divorce.
“These domestic related situations, they’re heated,” West Chester Police Sgt. Steve Oakes said. “Tempers are flaring, people are losing their tempers. It’s becoming more common.”
Last Thursday, Samantha Decker, 24, was found shot multiple times at the Villages at Wildwood Luxury Apartments in Fairfield. Her ex-boyfriend, Nicholas Delaney, 28, turned himself in last Friday afternoon and has been charged with murder.
West Chester Police said Brian Dunn has no prior criminal record, but officers have been to the home on Barret Road “three or four times” in the past two years for domestic related incidents.
The Dunns filed for divorce in April, according to Annette Lolli, Butler County Domestic Relations Court Administrator.
“It’s a tragic thing, and heartbreaking for the families and relatives involved,” Lolli said.
The couple’s divorce trial was scheduled for Dec. 16, according to Candi Dunn’s divorce attorney, Ched Peck.
He said the couple had a history of domestic disputes, but “nothing to this magnitude.”
A few months ago, Brian Dunn seeked a restraining order against his estranged wife, but later dropped it, according to Peck.
“I’m shocked and sickened. It’s a terrible situation,” Peck said.
The Dunns’ children, ages 14, 13 and 6, were home at the time of the incident, according to a 911 call placed by Brian Dunn’s mother, Brenda, who asked for an ambulance at 4:52 a.m.
“I don’t know what happened,” she said in the seven-minute 911 call. “I was in the bed. I have three grand kids with me. My son and his soon to be ex-wife were out here and her windshield’s busted up. She’s in my driveway. I don’t know what happened but he just took off.”
“Were they outside together?” the dispatcher asked.
“Yeah, I heard something pop and I don’t know what it was,” Brenda Dunn replied. “I just need somebody to get here with an ambulance.”
When the dispatcher asked the woman why an ambulance was needed, Dunn’s mother said “for her.”
“She’s on the ground,” Brenda Dunn said. “I don’t know what happened.”
“Is she conscious?” the dispatcher asked.
“I don’t know,” Brenda Dunn replied. “I am in the bed. I am going down to check on her.”
She told dispatchers she thought her son might have a gun. When the dispatcher asked where her son might have gone, Brenda Dunn responded that she had no idea.
“He’ll probably go kill himself, I would say,” she said.
A few minutes later, Brenda Dunn told the dispatcher that she saw Candi in the driveway, as well as a lot of blood, and was trying to keep the children away from the scene. The victim’s car was still running in the driveway, but her son “took off in his car.”
At about 6 a.m., Mason Police found Brian Dunn dead in his red Jeep Cherokee in the driveway of a Mason home about one mile away.
Angel Helsinger, who lives at 811 Trustway Court, said she was awoken at about 6 a.m. Wednesday to police banging on her front door.
“Just some random incident, a man pulled into my drive way and killed himself,” Helsinger said. “I’m still really nervous. I’m glad I leave my deadbolt on my door.”
Glass from Dunn’s driver’s side window was scattered all over the Mason driveway Wednesday morning. Helsinger said she made sure her three young children stayed in the back of the house away from the scene as police investigated.
“My hopes and prayers go out to the family of those involved,” she said.
About the Author
