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Upper Merion Man In Jail For Alleged Murder Of Twin Brother And Parents

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A 23-year-old Gulph Mills man is in custody, charged with the brutal murders of his parents and twin brother.

Neighbors were shocked when police descended on a house in the 200 block of Holstein Road, Saturday night. The home belonged to long-time residents - the McAndrew family - father Joe Senior, mother Sue and twin brothers Jim and Joe.

According to the criminal complaint, a tenant who rents a room from the McAndrews called 911 just before 7 p.m. Saturday.

The complaint says Joseph Junior was in the driveway, claiming his family was out, but police, who saw blood on his pants and shoes, entered the house and found the victims in the kitchen with multiple lacerations and stab wounds. Montgomery Çounty District Attorney Risa Verti Ferman announced Monday that an 18-inch sword type of weapon was recovered from the scene. Investigators say they believe that's the weapon McAndrew used on his family.

Robin Rieger reports...

According to the documents, there were large quantities of blood throughout the house and shoe prints in it that they believe match the shoes worn by Joe Junior. They also recount a chilling conversation in which the suspect, when asked what happened, replies "extermination." Asked who the victims were, he allegedly replied, "Person named brother, person named mother, person named father."

Ferman went on to say McAndrew has a record of mental health issues. She would not give specifics.

Ferman says based on evidence from inside the home it appears McAndrew's twin brother, James, tried to fight back. Ferman says James suffered the worst stab wounds.

Neighbor Joe Clark says Joe's twin brother recently moved back home after graduating from Penn State. He said Joe Sr. and Sue were devoted parents.

"They did everything, gave them everything they needed."

Clark says he had a bad feeling when police descended on his friend's home Saturday night.

"They kind of depend (on me) in bad situations, they would call me up and give 'em a hand, help 'em out. I'm just a mess from it."

Clark also says Joseph Junior had not gone to school and was unemployed. He is currently being held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility without bail on three counts of first degree murder.

Reported By Pat Loeb and Jim Melwert, KYW Newsradio; Jericka Duncan, CBS 3

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