Magnolia man accused of murdering stepfather with machete before deadly head-on crash

Man kills stepfather, dies in Magnolia crash: Officials

Montgomery County Deputies say a 35-year-old man is believed to have killed his 77-year-old stepfather Thursday morning before he intentionally crashed head-on into a dump truck about 100 yards away from the home.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas - Montgomery County Deputies say a 35-year-old man is believed to have killed his 77-year-old stepfather Thursday morning before he intentionally crashed head-on into a dump truck about 100 yards away from the home. 

Possible Murder-Suicide in Magnolia

Possible murder-suicide in Magnolia, Texas

A 77-year-old man was found dead with sharp force trauma in his Montgomery County home in what deputies believe was a murder-suicide.

What we know:

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office was called just before 9 a.m. Thursday morning in the 37400 block of FM 149 after family members found a 77-year-old man was found dead inside a home. 

Deputies say the man, identified as Jeffry Love, had multiple sharp force trauma to the head, and a machete was found nearby. 

Love's wife is the person who called 911.

The stepson, 35-year-old Nicholas Petropolis, was seen fleeing from the scene, deputies reported.

Then the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call about a head-on crash between a dump truck and a Toyota Grand Highlander. The crash happened about 100 yards from the home, about two minutes later.

Deputies say it appears the situation is a murder-suicide.

The driver of the dump truck was taken to the hospital and is stable, but his condition is not known.

Petropolis died in the head-on crash. 

Deputies believe the crash may have been intentional, saying there is video evidence captured by a witness who had a dashcam that captured Petropolis accelerating into oncoming traffic.

Deputies say the preliminary investigation shows Petropolis may have recently changed his medication. 

Family members are being interviewed and deputies say there is no indication there was any type of toxic relationship between Petropolis and Love.

Deputies say neither Love nor Petropolis have criminal histories.

The Montgomery County Fire Department says FM 149 will be closed for an extended amount of time.

The Hazardous Materials crew was called to the scene.

Montgomery County ESD No. 10/Magnolia Fire Department

Motorists are urged to use an alternate route if possible to avoid delays and to allow first responders to work.

This is a developing story.