Motive for Florida family’s massacre may never be known

By TERRY SPENCER, FREIDA FRISARO and CURT ANDERSON
Associated Press

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Florida investigators say they may never know why a Marine veteran killed a Lakeland family of four. Authorities say Bryan Riley confessed to killing a 40-year-old man, his 33-year-old girlfriend, their 3-month-old son and the woman’s 62-year-old mother. Relatives said a wounded 11-year-old girl was in stable condition early Tuesday after her fourth surgery. Investigators say the 33-year-old gunman told them, “You know why I did this.” But he had no known connection with the victims, and prosecutor Brian Haas said mental illness is the only explanation so far. Riley’s girlfriend said he was claiming to talking directly with God.