DA: Winchester Man Left Notes Saying He Killed Family

Authorities say a man charged with killing his wife, two young children and mother-in-law left behind notes in their Winchester home admitting to slayings.

District Attorney Gerry Leone said Thursday two identical letters found in Thomas Mortimer IV's Winchester home said: "I did these horrible things. What I've done was extremely selfish and cowardly. I murdered my family."

Police in western Massachusetts captured the 43-year-old Mortimer on Thursday afternoon after a day-long search. He faces four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his family, who were found slain Wednesday in their suburban home.

Leone said the victims appeared to be killed by blunt trauma and wounds caused by sharp objects.

He declined to give details on the weapons.

Prior to his arrest Thursday in Bernardston, about 100 miles from Boston, Mortimer was last seen Monday around 6 p.m. at his job at M&R Consultants Corp., a Burlington technology consulting firm, said Anil Shah, the company's president.

Mortimer was a hard worker who had been making progress at his job since getting hired around a month and a half ago, Shah said. Mortimer accepted the position after a long period without a job and took about two weeks to set up his child care, Shah said.

"He was very professional, very nice guy ... always very positive," said Shah. "Somehow my heart doesn't believe he couldn't be involved in anything that he's been charged with."

Mortimer had left a message for his supervisor around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday to say he wasn't feeling well and wouldn't be at work, Shah said. About two hours later, Mortimer told a co-worker he had been up sick all night and would be back at work on Wednesday, Shah said.

Shah said the company had phone problems on Wednesday but Mortimer did not come to work and hasn't been seen since.

Mortimer grew up in Avon, Conn., and authorities had been stationed outside his parents home there Thursday to watch for his vehicle.