In a devastating new detail that has only deepened the horror surrounding last week’s triple murder-suicide in Plainville, Connecticut, police have recovered a suicide note written by 27-year-old Patrick J. King in which he explicitly laid out his tormented motive: years of unrelenting depression that he claimed had become unbearable, pushing him to kill his girlfriend Felisha Matthews, her 12-year-old daughter Mileena Matthews, and his own four-year-old daughter Ava King before ending his own life.

The handwritten note, discovered inside the blood-stained home on Milford Street during the crime scene investigation, offered a rare and chilling glimpse into the mind of a man who, just days earlier, had calmly confessed to his sister over the phone that he had shot his family and was about to take his own life.

According to sources close to the investigation, King’s note described a long struggle with severe, chronic depression that had worsened dramatically in recent months. He wrote of feeling trapped, hopeless, and overwhelmed by what he perceived as insurmountable personal failures, financial pressures, and emotional isolation. In raw, fragmented sentences, he expressed guilt mixed with a disturbing sense of “relief” at the idea of ending everything — including the lives of the people closest to him.

“I couldn’t take the pain anymore,” one line reportedly read. “This is the only way out for all of us.”

The note made clear that King viewed the murders as a twisted form of “mercy” or escape from the suffering he believed they all shared. He specifically mentioned his fear that his depression would destroy the family anyway, framing the killings as a final, desperate act to “stop the pain for good.”

This revelation has left the close-knit Plainville community not only grieving but also grappling with difficult questions about mental health, warning signs, and how a seemingly ordinary suburban household could hide such profound darkness.

The tragedy unfolded on Friday afternoon, March 27, 2026. Just before 4 p.m., King’s sister dialed 911 in absolute panic after receiving a chilling phone call from her brother. In a calm but matter-of-fact voice, King told her he had shot and killed his girlfriend Felisha and their four-year-old daughter Ava — and that he was about to end his own life too. That confession triggered a massive two-hour police standoff.

Plainville officers, backed by SWAT teams from neighboring towns, surrounded the modest single-family home on Milford Street. Negotiators attempted to make contact. Drones scanned the property. In a final effort to force King out, authorities deployed pepper gas into the residence. Moments later, a single gunshot rang out. Officers breached the home and found King with a self-inflicted head wound. He was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead shortly afterward.

Inside the house, the true horror awaited. The bodies of Felisha Matthews, 31, Mileena Matthews, 12, and little Ava King, 4, were discovered in their beds, each killed by gunshot wounds to the head while they appeared to have been sleeping. Autopsy results released earlier confirmed they were executed with clinical precision — no signs of struggle, no defensive wounds. They died without ever waking up to the nightmare unfolding in their own home.

Felisha Matthews had previously worked as a public safety dispatcher, the steady voice on the other end of emergency calls helping others in crisis. Colleagues remembered her as dedicated and compassionate. Mileena was a typical middle schooler full of energy and promise. Little Ava was the family’s joyful “ray of sunshine,” always giggling and lighting up the sidewalk with her smile.

The firearms used were legally registered to King, who held a valid permit. No prior domestic violence reports had been logged at the address, making the sudden explosion of violence even more shocking.

Now, the suicide note adds a layer of tragic complexity. While it does not excuse the unimaginable act, it points to long-term mental health struggles that King allegedly battled in silence. Friends and acquaintances have since come forward saying King had seemed increasingly withdrawn in recent months, though no one anticipated the horror he would unleash.

Plainville Police Chief Christopher Vanghele called the incident “a very dark day for the Town of Plainville, and for Connecticut.” Town Manager Michael T. Paulhus described it as “a horrific event” and “a dark day and a dark hour at this moment.” Council Chair Christopher Wazorko echoed the community’s pain, saying residents were “searching for answers” while united in sorrow and compassion.

Memorials continue to grow outside the Milford Street home. Balloons, flowers, stuffed animals, and tear-stained notes form a heartbreaking shrine to three stolen lives. At the Middle School of Plainville, empty desks and grief counselors await students trying to process the loss of a classmate. Former colleagues of Felisha struggle to answer emergency calls knowing one of their own never received the help she desperately needed.

The discovery of the suicide note has reignited urgent conversations about mental health awareness, the warning signs of severe depression, and the critical importance of accessible support systems. In a suburban town where “everything seemed normal,” the note serves as a painful reminder that hidden suffering can sometimes erupt in the most catastrophic ways.

King’s sister, who made the initial 911 call, is said to be devastated, torn between grief for her brother and the unimaginable loss of his victims. The broader family on both sides is shattered, struggling to reconcile the man they thought they knew with the monster revealed in both his actions and final words.

As the active investigation continues, authorities are examining phones, computers, and other evidence for additional context. While the note provides insight into King’s state of mind, it leaves many questions unanswered: Had he sought professional help? Were there earlier cries for assistance that went unheard? Could anything have prevented this tragedy?

For the people of Plainville, the pain remains raw. Parents are hugging their children tighter. Neighbors who once waved hello to the family now stand in stunned silence outside the growing memorial. The quiet streets feel forever changed by the knowledge of what happened behind one ordinary door on Milford Street.

Felisha Matthews, Mileena Matthews, and little Ava King were taken in the one place they should have been safest — their own beds, while sleeping peacefully. Patrick King’s suicide note may explain the “why” in his own tormented words, but it cannot bring back three innocent lives or heal the wounds left behind.

The gun smoke has cleared. The note has been read. But the grief, the questions, and the haunting final words — “I couldn’t take the pain anymore” — will echo through this community for years to come.

In the end, a family that moved to Plainville seeking a fresh start found only darkness. Three beautiful souls — a devoted mother, a bright 12-year-old, and a joyful four-year-old — were lost to an illness that too often hides in silence until it is too late.

May their memory serve as a call for greater compassion, better mental health support, and the courage to speak up before despair turns deadly.