Connecticut-North Carolina incestuous relationship ends with triple murder-suicide

NEW MILFORD, Conn. (WTNH/WNCN) -  A multi-state investigation is underway along the east coast after the deaths of four people including an infant.

Police say it started with an incestuous relationship between a father, 43-year-old Steven Pladl and his daughter, and 20-year-old Katie Pladl. Arrest warrants show the two were married and had a baby boy, Bennett together in September of 2017. 

Thursday morning, the infant was found dead inside Steven Pladl's North Carolina home after the mother of Steven Pladl called 911 saying her son confessed to the chilling murder of his 7-month old baby, his daughter and her adoptive father.

In the 911 call, Steven's mother says Katie broke up with him over the phone and he was going to drive to her. 

"He killed the baby and left him in the house," the mother of Steven Pladl says in the 9-1-1 calls. 

"He said he killed his wife, he killed her father," she continued. 

Police in New Milford, Connecticut, were then called to a double homicide investigation along Route 55.  Katie Pladl and her adoptive father were found dead of gunshot wounds inside a pick up truck. 

"Mr. Pladl drove to that location for the specific purpose of making some confrontations. There are details I want to keep guarded at this time," Chief Lawrence Capps with the Knightdale, N.C. Police Dept. said. 

A short time later, Steven Pladl was found dead of a self inflicted gun shot wound just over the Connecticut line, in Wingdale, NY. Neighbors there were sickened. 

"The biological father - he's a coward," Loretta Lashomb told News 8.  "He killed two innocent people, made a baby out of incest and then cowardly killed himself." 

News 8 is also learning that Katie Pladl was adopted at birth and reconnected with her biological father at 18.  

Steven and Katie Pladl were both each charged with incest with adult, adultery, and contributing to delinquency after investigators said they had a child together. 

Katie Rose Pladl was born in January 1998 to Steven Walter Pladl and her mother and then legally adopted out of state.

When Katie Pladl turned 18, she used social media to reach out to her biological parents, according to warrants. 

Steven Pladl eventually left his wife to be with Katie, warrants say. 

At some point after May 31, 2017, Katie and Steven Pladl moved to Wake County, North Carolina.

Warrants say their child was born in September 2017.

Officials are continuing their investigation of the incident.

Web Extra: News conference with New Milford Police Lieutenant Lawrence Ash

Web Extra: News conference with Knightdale, North Carolina Police