Paul Harrington, a former cop, was married to Wanda for 17 years. The couple had two boys, Brian, 3, and Paul, Jr., 15. One morning in January of this year after Paul, Jr., left home to go to school, Paul, Sr., walked into the master bedroom and shot his sleeping wife Wanda two times in the temple. Then he went into the boys’ bedroom and shot young Brian three times in the head. Harrington then calmly dialed 911, stepped out onto the porch and waited for the police to arrive.

Last month’s story had its real beginning nearly 25 years ago during the time Paul Harrington was still a member of the Detroit Police force. It was December 19, 1975. Harrington and his 28-year-old wife, Becky, had two daughters, Pamela, 9, and Cassandra, 4. It was supper time and the family was seated around the table.

The telephone rang and Harrington, a Viet Nam veteran, used the term, "incoming mail." He apparently believed he was under attack by the Viet Cong and launched a counter-attack-at least in his own mind. Bullets from Harrington’s police service revolver struck and killed his wife and two daughters.

Harrington surrendered himself without incident. Later, a judge said that Harrington was innocent by reason of insanity. The court ordered him committed to a state mental hospital. Two months later he was released, as provided by Michigan State law. Two months.

Last month’s incident was a near duplicate of what had happened a quarter of a century earlier. Authorities said Harrington’s shooting spree may have occurred because he ran out of medicine.

Harrington’s story was first reported by The Associated Press saying the former law enforcement officer made no pretense of his innocence. Soon after he was arrested for killing his second family Harrington told the cops, "The same thing happened 25 years ago-they should have put me away then."