UPDATE:
http://www.fox9.com/news/investigators/72445952-story
Investigators: Minnesota filmmaker obsessed with conspiracies killed family, himself
APPLE VALLEY, Minn. (KMSP) - An Apple Valley, Minn. filmmaker had become obsessed with a grim film project he was working on in the months leading up to the murder of his wife and 5-year-old daughter before killing himself, according to police, friends, and family members.
Apple Valley Police gave the FOX 9 Investigators an exclusive look at the recently completed, year-long investigation into the murder-suicide.
“Very sad scene, during the holidays, beautiful family, tragic loss,” said Apple Valley Police Chief, Jon Rechtzigel.
Detectives believe David Crowley shot his wife, Komel, and their 5-year-old daughter, Raniya on December 26, 2014. Their bodies were discovered three weeks later on January 17, 2015.
For years David Crowley had worked on a film project called “Gray State,†along with a related documentary, “The Rise.†A concept trailer for “Gray State,†shows the U.S. Government taking away all citizens’ liberties and FEMA turning into a militarized, occupying police force.
“From all accounts, he was consumed with this film and dark topic conspiracy theories about the fall of society,” said Rechtzigel. “If that’s all you’re working on, it can take you to a bad place.”
“It almost embodied him, dictating a lot of his thoughts and outlook on reality,” said Danny Mason, Co-Producer of the film project.
Elaborate conspiracy theories on the internet claim the Crowley’s were all murdered as part of a government conspiracy. Investigators found no such evidence.
The Apple Valley Police case file contains some shocking and disturbing revelations about the crime scene. Written in blood on a wall above the bodies were the words “Allahu Akbar,†which in Arabic means, “God is the greatest.†Forensic tests reveal it was written in Komel’s blood.
“We believe that was a parting shot. Probably at her (Komel) for having a Muslim past,” said Rechtzigel.
Between their bodies, a Koran, with pages torn out, opened to a traditional forgiveness prayer.
In the living room, David Crowley’s bloody fingerprint was on a laptop, opened to a text file, with only a single sentence: “I have loved you all with all of my heart.â€
In the home office on a note pad, there were more of his bloody fingerprints and the words “submit to Allah now.â€
Police believe David did not kill himself right away, after shooting his wife and daughter. He left a trail of footprints, tracking Komel’s blood through the house.
“This is a person not thinking clearly, committed a horrible act. His mind at that point was deranged, who knows what he was thinking,” said Rechtzigel.
That is also the assessment of one of David Crowley’s closest friends. “That’s David being sarcastic, him throwing a jab, (possibly) at Komel’s family,” Mason Hendricks speculated. “This has nothing to with Islam, but is ultimately about a man who lost his way, and killed his wife, his daughter and then himself.”
Komel was raised primarily in Pakistan and had converted from Islam to Christianity when the couple married. The couple met in Texas where Komel attended college and David Crowley was stationed in the US Army. Friends and family told the FOX 9 Investigators religion did not seem to play a significant role in the Crowley’s lives.
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Thanks for the update ping. I was recently wondering what happened with the case. Guess we have to go along with him being nutso though it’s still very strange. The wife seemed happy and upbeat. Never will understand how fathers can take the whole family out with them.