A 26-year-old Pennsylvania woman who encouraged her parents to commit suicide was found last week with a decorative 2.5- to 3-foot metal sword with the words “The Sword of the Lord” engraved on the blade.
The bodies of Morgan Daub, her mother Deborah, 59, and father James, 62, were found behind their parents’ home on Loman Avenue in West Manchester Township, where the massacre took place.
The 26-year-old was found on the morning of January 25 with her sword in her left hand and an empty holster on the right side of her belt after neighbors saw the bodies and called 911.
According to a search warrant obtained by AI.com, a “living will” had been taped to the inside of the home’s sliding glass door, signed by all three family members.
The document said the trio did not wish to be resuscitated if found alive.
Morgan Daub, 26, of Pennsylvania, who encouraged her parents to commit suicide, was found last week with a decorative 2.5- to 3-foot metal sword with “The Sword of the Lord” inscribed on the blade
“At the bottom of the note are three unique signatures for each name listed, followed by a date of 01/24/2023 written below the names,” Joseph Staley, a West Manchester officer, wrote on the search warrant.
James and Deborah’s deaths were ruled a homicide by York Country Coroner Pamela Gay, while Morgan’s death was ruled a suicide.
Police have not confirmed who killed whom and in what order, but all three died from gunshot wounds to the head. Despite finding the knife, no injuries were found.
The black and silver “Sword of the Lord”, a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm pistol, a Sig Sauer AR-15 and 9mm cartridge cases and bullet fragments were collected at the scene, according to the outlet.
Farewell letters documenting important financial information and notes from the Bible were also found in the trash.
Police also found a document called “Cooper’s Dog Letter,” which was a list of detailed instructions on how to care for the dog, who they left drugged, so he doesn’t bite first responders.
Snowfall initially hid a pistol, which officers later found in the backyard.
On the morning of January 25, shots rang out in the quiet neighborhood, prompting police to storm the Daub family home after a call from a concerned neighbor.
26-year-old Morgan Daub, pictured in a clip from one of her YouTube videos, was found dead, with single shots to the head, along with her mother Deborah, 59, and father James, 62
Months before the killings, Daub posted a video on YouTube in which she claimed to “abdicate the throne of the United Kingdom” and called herself the Antichrist
Officials put up a cordon while a white tent was pitched in the garden to hide the horrifying sight of the Daub family lying lifeless with gunshot wounds to their heads in the backyard.
Detectives analyzing “notes from family members” found at the scene uncovered evidence that the murders were pre-planned and that all three family members appeared to have agreed to participate in the grisly murder-suicide pact.
Daub posted a rambling video on her YouTube channel on November 26 under the username LionessArising.
She opens the video in a mock British accent before declaring, “I, Morgan Elizabeth Daub, of York, Pennsylvania, United States of America, hereby abdicate the throne of the United Kingdom.”
A few minutes later, she adds, “That’s funny… That was the penultimate plan against me and against God. Didn’t know I was the ideal choice for Antichrist, for the devil.”
“I was the ideal choice for Antichrist.”
A caption below the video reads: “This is a public record of my abdication from the throne and cannot and will not be withdrawn by me.
“I was in no way forced to resign. I am of sound mind and body and I have chosen this of my own free will. Also, I intend to sign official documents as soon as possible.
West Manchester Township authorities said ‘the three family members had planned their deaths in advance’
A coroner’s report on the deaths says police were called late in the morning of January 25 with reports “indicating that three bodies had been found [the] Back” of the Daub family home
“For anyone who doesn’t know me and happens to find this video, it’s quite a long story as to how I would be next in line to the throne. All will be told in due course.’
Her last upload came the day before the murders – a chilling six-second clip with no sound titled “FOLLOW ME AS I FOLLOW CHRIST!!!”
She also released a 30-minute video in September saying her family was being “denied basic human rights.”
“You’ll find out soon enough why I’m such a threat,” the caption reads.
The local police department said: “At this stage of the investigation, we do not believe there is any danger to the public or the surrounding community.
“The final determination of the cause and manner of death is pending. The situation is believed to be a family event and officials continue to investigate and collect information related to this tragedy.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and families of the Daubs.”
A coroner’s report on the deaths says police were called late in the morning of January 25 with reports “indicating that three bodies had been found [the] Back” of the Daub family home.
Daub’s last upload to YouTube came the day before the murders – a six-second silent clip entitled “FOLLOW ME AS I FOLLOW CHRIST!!!”
Chief John Snyder said the Daub family was “extremely religious” and only James was working at the time of their horrific death pact
“Following a detailed investigation and evidence found at the scene, including communications from family members, it was determined that the three family members had planned their deaths in advance.”
According to the York Dispatch, additional written documents left by each family member said Morgan “had told her mother that she had auditory hallucinations that didn’t get better,” lead detective in the case, Timothy Fink, told the outlet .
“Deborah wrote that she didn’t want her daughter to cross over alone, so she decided to end her life with her,” Fink said.
“The letter James wrote indicated that they had shared their plan with him and he decided he didn’t want to live without them.”
Chief John Snyder said the Daub family was “extremely religious” and only James was working at the time of their horrific death pact.
Property records show the Daubs had lived in their home for the past 23 years, having bought it in May 2000 when Morgan was just three years old.
Family friends of the Daub family have found that the YouTube videos Morgan uploaded did not match what the 26-year-old knew and loved.
The Morgans they knew often frequented the local bowling alley, a favorite pastime of hers since she was a child.
Family friends of the Daub family have found that the YouTube videos Morgan uploaded did not match what the 26-year-old knew and loved. The Morgans they knew often frequented the local bowling alley, a favorite pastime of hers since she was a child
A coroner’s report on the deaths says police were called late Wednesday morning with reports “suggesting that three bodies have been found [the] Back” of the Daub family home
“She seemed to really enjoy bowling. And she was smart,” Paula Wolfe, youth coordinator at Suburban Bowlerama, told Youth Dispatch.
‘Somewhat quiet girl. Her mother was very kind. Dad was friendly.’
The bowling alley employee said the loss came as a shock to the community.
“Everybody’s just really sad about it and they just don’t know what to make of it,” Wolfe said.
“I don’t know if you can ever imagine that. But, yes, a family that you never thought something like this would happen.
Sherry Wagman, assistant tournament director for the York/Adams United States Bowling Congress Association, said Morgan started bowling at 8 or 9 a.m.
Wagman said the 26-year-old is always interested in learning more about the game and gets “excited when she’s bowling well”.
Morgan played with the Lincolnway youth league until the facility closed in 2013, then moved to Suburban Bowlerama for two years.
“Morgan bowled in various tournaments growing up and won quite a few scholarships at those tournaments,” Wagman said.
Wagman noted that Morgan and her mother often bowled together.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, the total number of gun violence deaths in the United States from 2013 to February 2023 is 3,730.
There have since been 1,618 mass shootings, 6 mass murders and 2,112 suicides.