A National Guardsman from Alabama has shot dead his estranged wife and her new boyfriend inside a Florida hotel room where the pair had been staying before turning the gun on himself in what police are calling a double murder-suicide.
According to police, 37-year-old Mark Stokes, a major in the Army National Guard stationed at Fort Rucker, Alabama, murdered his wife, Army National Guard Sgt Amanda Stokes, 28, at Hampton Inn and Suites in Panama City, Florida, early Saturday morning.
Also killed was Kenneth Krause, 30, whom investigators described as Amanda's 'new acquaintance.’
Deadly love triangle: Police in Florida say Army National Guard Major Mark Stokes killed his estranged wife Amanda (pictured together, left) and her new boyfriend, Kenneth Krause (right)
Amanda and Krause had been staying at Hampton Inn and Suites in Panama City, Florida (pictured), while attending the Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally last weekend
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ShareAmanda and Mark, who have a five-year-old daughter together, had recently separated but continued running a biker bar in Alabama called ‘Chainsaws’ together, reported WJHG.
The Stokes had rented a house in Panama City for their family, friends and co-workers attending the Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally last weekend, but Amanda decided to stay in the hotel with Krause because she had split up with her husband a few weeks earlier.
On May 2, Mark posted a status update on Facebook that read: ‘I'm bout to get back in the saddle again and I may not get out of it for a while,’ reported Northwest Florida Daily News.
Amanda shared a screenshot of her estranged husband’s post, announcing that they were no longer a couple.
‘I don’t want to know what he’s doing,’ she wrote. ‘I don’t want to know where he’s at. Please don’t contact me in regard to his actions. I don’t care to know.’
Split: Amanda, 28, was an Army National Guard sergeant (left). She and Mark (pictured right on their wedding day) had recently separated
Orphan: The Stokeses have a daughter together (pictured as an infant), who is now five years old and growing up without her parents
Business partners: Despite their split, the couple continued operating a bar in Alabama together
On May 2, Mark posted this status update on Facebook that read: ‘I'm bout to get back in the saddle again and I may not get out of it for a while'
Amanda’s two final Facebook updates posted on the morning of May 4 consisted of photos of herself posing with Krause in a leather biker vest and holding a pitcher of beer.
Less than 24 hours later, both Amanda and Krause were dead, along with the woman’s husband.
Police said at 4am on May 5, Mark arrived at the hotel where Amanda and Krause were staying, got a key to her room from the front desk and shot the man and woman, before taking his own life.
Police were called to Room 222 at the hotel at 8am by maintenance workers after guests staying in a downstairs room reported seeing blood dripping from the ceiling.
Happier times: Amanda and Mark (pictured on their wedding day) had recently separated
Grisly end: The bodies of Amanda and Krause were discovered inside Room 222 after guests staying in a downstairs room complained of blood dripping from the ceiling
Amanda posted this selfie with Krause less than 24 hours before the two were shot dead
The Stokeses’ now-orphaned daughter is staying with her grandmother in Alabama.
According to her obituary, Amanda was the daughter of a pastor and served as a recruiter for the National Guard for four years and later became a reserve officer.
‘Sgt. Stokes was very proud to serve her country along with the military men and women who she considered family,’ the obituary read.
Krause’s obituary described him as a ‘true gentleman’ known for his contagious laugh and infectious smile.
‘He will be remembered for helping anyone and everyone at any moment. He loved being outdoors, whether on his motorcycle, hunting, fishing, shooting or teaching someone to ride a horse,’ the statement read. ‘More than any of those things, he loved his family and friends with an intensity that could be felt in any conversation with him.’
Amanda was the daughter of a pastor and served as a recruiter for the National Guard for four years. Krause’s obituary described him as a ‘true gentleman'
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