Marital issues in Nelson family probably led to shooting, Elyria police say

ELYRIA — Marital issues in the Nelson family seemed to be the motive for why a man shot his wife and three children in Elyria last week. The entire Nelson family — John, 44; Robin, 35; Gavin, 12; Brianna, 10; and Liam, 6 — were found dead in their home July 29 in an apparent murder-suicide. Elyria police Capt. Bill Pelko said Robin Nelson had said she was moving out of the house. Pelko said that's probably the reason John Nelson shot his family before killing himself. A co-worker, who also was a friend, went to check on John Nelson at his house July 29. He became concerned when the family dog was quiet and there were shell casings on the ground. The dog had been shot as well, police said. The co-worker's mother, Linda Bristow, told The Chronicle on July 29 that she thought she had heard fireworks the previous evening. She said she also heard the kids screaming, but she thought they were headed for the pool in the family's backyard. She never did see the children in the pool, she said. Before the shooting, there had been no other police calls to the Nelson home. While the investigation is still ongoing, records such as the police report will not be released. Contact Laina Yost at (440) 329-7121 or lyost@chroniclet.com.