| Date | Name | City | Province | Licensed | Victims | Deaths | Injuries | Suicide | Firearms | OIC Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Luft | Kitchener | ON | No | 5 | 6 | 0 | Yes | Yes | No |
Knife, .22 rifle
Child protective services, mental illness, financial troubles,
Classification:
Corroborated
Incident Summary:
On July 6, 2000, Bill Luft, 42, killed his wife Bohumila, 27, and their four children, Daniel, 7, Nicole, 5, Peter, 2, and David, 2½ months, before taking his own life in their home in Kitchener, Ontario. The incident was confirmed as a murder-suicide by police and coroner's inquest.
Well-Supported Details:
Unverified or Conflicting Claims:
Source Quality Notes:
Police in Kitchener confirmed the deaths of a family of six were the result of a murder-suicide. The family members were identified as Bill Luft, 42; his wife Bohumila, 27; and their children Daniel, 7; Nicole, 5; Peter, 2; and David, 2 1/2 months. The grandparents, Vilem and Mirka Luft, who owned the house where the family lived, were treated as witnesses in the tragedy.
A family of six, including four young children, was found slain in a suburban home in Kitchener, Ontario. The victims were identified as Bill Luft, 42; his wife Bohumila, 27; and their children Daniel, 7; Nicole, 5; Peter, 2; and 2 1/2-month-old baby David. Police labeled the case a multiple homicide and stated that there was no reason to be looking for any suspects at that time. The cause of death and motive for the killings have not been announced by police.
Two of nine recommendations from the coroner's inquest jury following the 2001 mass murder of Bill Luft and his family were implemented. The implemented recommendations were:
a. Education: Provide additional funding for public awareness of mental health, include mental health education in secondary schools, and include it in post-secondary educational programs.
b. Communication: Implement best practices for sharing information between agencies, enhance the Fast Track software, and ensure a free flow of information between agencies.
c. Treatment: Provide additional funding for community support groups to assist with ongoing monitoring of psychiatric patients.
Bill Luft, a 42-year-old unemployed man, and his wife Bohumila Luft, 27, were found dead in their home in Kitchener, Ontario, along with their four children. The coroner confirmed it was a murder-suicide.
Bohumila Luft gave birth to their fourth child 2½ months prior to the incident, and her husband's behavior became irrational, prompting a social worker to notify child-protection officials.
Bill Luft had a history of mental strain during births, and a hospital social worker suspected he might have a mental-health problem, possibly bipolar disorder.
Bill Luft filed for an interim custody order in a Kitchener court in October 1997, alleging his wife Bohumila was "either a victim of, or involved with a Satanic cult of some sort." Court records show Luft suspected his wife was performing satanic rituals with her new boyfriend and their children in the Czech Republic. Luft's son Daniel reported strange behavior, including being told to arrange star patterns on the floor and sing under candlelight. Luft's application for custody was withdrawn after the couple reconciled in January 1998.
On July 6, 2000, Vilem and Miroslava Luft entered their home to find the bodies of their grandchildren, Daniel, Nicole, Peter, and David, and their daughter-in-law Bohumila, who had been shot. Their son Bill, who had a history of emotional problems and was not taking his medication, was found dead with a rifle next to him. The family had been experiencing financial difficulties and Bill was struggling with the birth of his son David, who had a congenital defect. The exact circumstances leading up to the tragedy are unclear, with both parents testifying that there were no particular signs of what was to come.
A private funeral is to be held for the victims of a murder-suicide in Ontario that left six people dead. The victims were Bill Luft, 42, his wife Bohumila, 27, and their four children, Daniel, 7, Nicole, 5, Peter, 2, and David, 2½ months. The family was found dead in their home in Kitchener, Ont. The cause of the deaths is confirmed as a murder-suicide, with Bill Luft stabbing his wife and shooting their children before turning the gun on himself.
Ronny Schedler, sister of Bill Luft, who killed his family and himself in 2011, says mental illness should not be blamed for the murders. She states that her brother's actions were his own responsibility and that mental illness is not a justification for violence. Schedler criticizes the media for focusing on the mental illness aspect of the case and creating a stigma around mental health issues. She also notes that her brother was facing other significant challenges, including unemployment, debt, and a serious health issue with his infant son. Schedler emphasizes that mental illness is not an excuse for violence and that people with mental health issues are not inherently violent.
On July 6, 2000, the bodies of six members of the Luft family were found in a home on Mooregate Crescent in Kitchener, Ontario. The victims were identified as Bill Luft, his wife, and their four children. The incident was a mass murder-suicide, with Bill Luft killing his family before taking his own life. The case was highly publicized and shocked the community.
Court documents released in Kitchener, Ont. confirm that a man who killed his wife and four children was deeply disturbed. The documents show that Bill Luft was awarded interim custody of the two oldest kids after he told the court in 1997 his wife Bohumila was in a satanic cult. Luft took his own life after going on a murderous rampage in his family home almost two weeks ago.
A coroner's inquest began in Kitchener, examining one of Canada's worst murder-suicide cases. On July 6, 2001, 42-year-old Bill Luft shot and killed his four children, stabbed his wife, then killed himself. The inquest will examine the role of police and social agencies leading up to the killings.