Nine deaths in a town of 50 people - did the death of his mother

trigger this madness?
http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/27/us/missouri-deaths/
Police: Missouri gunman kills 7 in town of 50 then himself; was cousin to 2 slain couples
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Authorities then found a trail of death that was so staggering, a state trooper lost count at a news conference.

Seven people, all gunshot victims, were found dead in four residences in the small town of 50 people. One person managed to survive, and she was found wounded in one of the homes.

The gunman also was found dead Friday morning in a GMC pickup after going to another county more than 15 miles away, where he apparently shot himself. He was identified Friday as Joseph Jesse Aldridge, 36, who was believed to be a cousin to four of the seven slain victims, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said.

And, in a twist to their probe, investigators happened upon another body -- that of an elderly woman -- in a fifth home, though she died of natural causes.

That person was the gunman's mother, Alice L. Aldridge, 74. She died of metastatic lung cancer, said Tom Whittaker, the coroner for Texas County, Missouri.

It was unclear Friday whether her death was connected to the case, Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Jeff Kinder said.

The gunman's finding his mother dead could be a motive, "but it would speculation for us to say that is the case," Kinder told CNN. "We're examining of a lot of different avenues now."

The gunman "had been (living) with her for quite some time," said Texas County Sheriff James Sigman.

The shooter didn't leave a note, so investigators are asking family and neighbors about a possible motive, the sheriff said.

In all, nine of the town's approximate 50 residents were found dead or killed overnight, nearly decimating the town twice over, according to authorities.

There were a total of six police scenes: Three had two bodies each. Two had one body each. And then there was the site where the suspect apparently committed suicide.

"Everybody is in disbelief now," Kinder said. "They're shocked. They will all just have to take care of each other. But it has just shocked this community to its core, and we will just have to work our way through it."

"It is a small community out there. Everybody knows everybody, but as far as what their personal relationship is ... I couldn't tell you," the sheriff said. "Crime like this in any community is pretty major."

Investigators spoke to the surviving victim, a woman, but weren't disclosing details, Sigman said.

"We obtained part of our information from her," Sheriff Sigman said. "As far as I know, she's expected to be okay."