Montgomery County Mother, Two Young Children Killed In Violent NY Murder-Suicide

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (CBS) -- Police in New York continue to investigate the horrific circumstances surrounding the murder-suicide in which a man killed his wife, a Montgomery County-native, and his two young children, before killing himself.

On Monday morning, attorney Sam Friendlander, 50, was seen at a friend's restaurant just hours before the murder. He appeared to be upbeat, despite going through a bitter divorce.

The family Rabbi said while Friedlander seemed stressed, no one thought he would kill his wife, Amy, and their children. (CBS2's Complete Coverage)

"We knew they were experiencing financial difficulties. We knew they were going through a difficult divorce," Rabbi Carla Freedman said.

Police believe Friedlander beat his 46-year-old wife to death with a piece of furniture and then shot his two children with a shotgun inside their West Chester County home. Eight-year-old Gregory and his 10-year-old sister, Molly, were found dead in their beds.

"It appears they were covered up with the bedspreads, which were on their bed, after they were shot," Major Michael Kopy, of the New York State Police, said. "People who knew him, have stated they have seen a change in his behavior, although they had no indication, whatsoever, his behavior would have led to what has transpired here."

New York Police say after killing his family, Friedlander went down to his basement and shot himself in the head with a shotgun.

Amy Friedlander, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania who grew up in the Delaware Valley, still has family in the Philadelphia area. Her father, Gary Perez, lives in Penn Valley, Montgomery County. Perez's home was dark Thursday evening and he was unavailable for comment.

Perez spoke to the The New York Daily News earlier in the day about his daughter. "She was a wonderful mother. She lived for her kids. She was smart and very accomplished and she tried everything to make her children happy, to make their marriage work," said Perez.

Amy's dad will reportedly bring the bodies of his daughter and grandchildren back to Montgomery County to be laid to rest.

Reported by Todd Quinones, CBS 3