Philadelphia, PA: Northeast Phila. couple died in murder-suicide

By Allison Steele

Inquirer Staff Writer

Robert and Sophia DiAndrea, the couple found stabbed in their Northeast Philadelphia home Saturday evening, died in a murder-suicide, sources close to the investigation said yesterday.
Sophia DiAndrea, 39, had been stabbed multiple times in the chest. Her 40-year-old husband died from self-inflicted knife wounds to the arms and forearms.

Robert DiAndrea was a city Water Department employee, while his wife worked for the School District of Philadelphia. They lived in a four-bedroom house on the 100 block of Greycourt Road, in the Bustleton section.

Their two young sons are in eighth and fifth grades, according to neighbors, and were not at home during the killings. The couple also had a third, adult son.

Investigators had said they were not sure if the couple's death was the result of a double slaying or a murder-suicide.

Police got a call about 5:15 p.m. Saturday from someone who was concerned that something had happened at the house, according to Philadelphia Sgt. Frank Hayes.

When police arrived, they found a grisly scene. The DiAndreas' bodies were found in separate bedrooms, and blood was spattered throughout the house.

The couple apparently had gotten into a knife fight, police said. Investigators removed three knives from the house with what appeared to be blood on them, police said.