Police: Suspected New Milford double-killer was victim’s father

The suspect in a double homicide in New Milford, Connecticut  allegedly killed his own daughter and her infant child -- who he fathered, police say.

According to investigators in Connecticut and North Carolina, he also killed his daughter's adoptive father near the state line and then himself in Dutchess County Thursday morning.

Police found two people dead in a pickup truck at the intersection of routes 7 and 55 in Gaylordsville, Connecticut, around 9 a.m. Then police found the suspect dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound in another vehicle, across the state line in Dover.

Police in North Carolina say the victims are 20-year-old Katie Pladl and her adoptive father, Anthony Fusco. They identified the suspected killer as Steven Pladl. He was the young woman's biological father.

North Carolina police say the infant victim was believed to be the child of the two Pladls. New Milford police have not confirmed the relationship between the involved parties.

"It is our understanding that Mr. Pladl drove to that area for the specific purpose of making some confrontation," says Knightdale, North Carolina, Police Chief Lawrence Capps.

Police say Katie Pladl grew up in Connecticut and found her biological parents just two years ago. After reuniting with them, her father apparently got her pregnant.

Investigators in Knightdale, North Carolina, say they found the infant dead Thursday morning in a home there she used to share with her biological father.

Katie Pladl had recently moved back to Connecticut with her adoptive father.

New Milford Police Lt. Lawrence Ash says that the North Carolina baby was 7 months old.

He declined to release further details pending the results of the investigation.