Man charged in slaying of wife, two children

CLAYTON, Mo. -- A suburban St. Louis man was charged Thursday with killing his wife and two children by bludgeoning them with a frying pan and suffocating them in the family's home.

St. Louis County prosecutors charged Steven Horne, 48, of Breckenridge Hills, with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of armed criminal action in the deaths of Sharon Horne, 46, and their two children, Matthew, 11, and Anne, 9.

At a news conference Thursday at police headquarters, authorities said they believe Horne contemplated killing his family Saturday night but that the slayings probably took place Sunday morning.

Police said Horne was at a truck stop Wednesday in Warren County, and was transported by ambulance to a St. Charles County hospital with symptoms of heat stroke. It was not immediately clear how Horne spent his time from Sunday until Wednesday. Police said he was in different places in the St. Louis area, but he apparently began to say some things that concerned medical staff.

"He made some comments about the safety, or the status, of his family in Breckenridge Hills," St. Louis County Police Lt. Jon Belmar said.

Police were notified and when they arrived at the Horne residence, they found the mother and children dead inside the small, brick house.

Breckenridge Hills Police Chief Don Kaley said his department had never responded to the Horne home for a domestic dispute. "We've never been called to that home, no problems at all," he said.

Belmar said there was no indication that Horne had a history of mental illness.

He said authorities were investigating a possible financial motive, but added, "There's not a good enough reason to kill two children and your wife, period."

Horne, who has some signs of self-inflicted injuries, is under a suicide watch at the St. Louis County jail. He is being held without bail.

Janet Le Sage, principal at the Marion Elementary School where both children were in programs for gifted students, said both parents were active volunteers there. She said Steven and Sharon Horne edited the school's newspaper and went on field trips.

"The family always appeared happy when they were here," she said.

She said Annie performed in choir and had a lot of friends. She said Matthew, who had significant hearing loss, loved to read, played chess and was brilliant at math.

Authorities said Steven Horne worked as an engineer.