Man kills ex-wife, 3 children, himself

A man shot and killed his ex-wife, their three children and himself in a small-town park where the woman was to hand over the youngsters for a visit, investigators said Friday.

Their bodies were found Thursday evening in the tiny community of Unity when Maryland-National Capital Park Police officers stopped in the deserted park after noticing two cars with engines running, said Wayne Jerman, Montgomery County assistant police chief.

The bodies of Gail Louise Pumphrey, 43, of Woodbine, and children ages 6, 10 and 12 were found in the cars, Jerman said. David Peter Brockdorff, 40, of Frederick, was found nearby with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police said they recovered a .22-caliber rifle near his body.

Sarah Mullen, whose house is two doors down from Pumphrey’s, said the children’s names were David, the eldest; Megan; and Brandon, the youngest. Police would not immediately release their identities.

The couple, who divorced in 2005, had a history of domestic violence, police said.

The family lived in Frederick County for about five years, with Brockdorff moving out in 2005 and Pumphrey leaving this year, neighbors said.

Brockdorff was a self-employed electrician who had coached T-ball, and Pumphrey was a flight attendant, said Mullen.

She said her children and theirs were close friends.

Police were often called to the couple’s large home during disputes, Mullen said. In fall 2005, Pumphrey asked Brockdorff to move out, which he did, but he continued to visit Pumphrey and harass her, Mullen said. Pumphrey got a restraining order and even suspected her phone had been tapped.

“She was very scared,” Mullen said. “She wanted to protect her kids and herself.”