Did chaplain's first wife really fall to her death off a cliff? Police to re-examine case after former minister kills himself and adult daughter in horror murder suicide

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Police investigating a murder-suicide involving a former minister plan to review reports about the 1993 death of the his first wife in Maine, officials said.

Daniel Randall drove to the home of his estranged family in Hebron, Maine, and killed his daughter, 27-year-old Claire Randall, before turning the gun on himself, police said.

The killings last week prompted detectives to ask Cape Elizabeth police and the state medical examiner's office for reports on the death of Randall's first wife, Greta Randall.

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Police investigating a murder-suicide involving former minister Daniel Randall (pictured) plan to review reports about the 1993 death of the his first wife Greta Randall, officials said

The death of Daniel's first wife was ruled an accident after she fell off a cliff at Two Lights State Park in 1993 (file photo of the park shown above)

Greta's death was ruled an accident after she fell off a cliff at Two Lights State Park in 1993 while Daniel and their two daughters Claire and Molly were were picnicking.

Police believed wet, slippery rocks contributed to Greta's fall, according to reports at the time.

Greta, 32, was pregnant at the time and the baby, named Lucas Barron Randall, was born three months prematurely, the Portland Press Herald reported.

The baby boy then died the next day.

Police said they have no plans to reopen the investigation of Greta's death at the moment, but want to review the investigative reports.

Daniel, an Iowa native, was working at the First Parish Congregational Church in Saco when his Greta Randall died during a Fourth of July weekend outing.

He took a two-month leave of absence before leaving the church in early 1994 and moving to Arizona. 

There he met his second wife, Anita, before returning to New England. 

Claire Randall, 27, was in the home when her father broke in at about 2pm. He shot her in the bathroom multiple times before leaving graffiti on the walls and surfaces

The two were estranged at the time of last week shootings, and Anita had filed for a divorce.

Police said they have determined where Daniel purchased the shotgun used in the killings, but declined to release the gun shop's name.

The gun purchase appears to have been legal and in compliance with all laws, authorities said. 

Daniel, a former Air Force and university chaplain, had just finished a 90-day program for alcohol abuse in Portland, Maine, last Thursday morning when he made the 50-mile journey to Hebron and bought the gun on the way.

He then broke into the home where his wife, son and daughter lived at around 2pm and shot Claire multiple times before spray-painting messages in five rooms of the house and killing himself, police told the Portland Press Herald.

Claire had just moved into the home from Rhode Island to stay with her mom, Anita, and brother, Gabriel, police said. 

 Claire (pictured in 2008) had moved to the home, where mom Anita lived, from Rhode Island shortly before

She was alone in the house when her father broke in.

Randall had broken into the home through the garage because he didn't have any keys, police said. 

He had been served divorce papers earlier in the week by wife Anita.

Police believe he shot Claire in the bathroom before spray-painting messages - including 'Vow breaker' and 'Anita, it's all your fault' - on five rooms in the house and shooting himself on the porch.

Neighbor Carroll Daggett, 71, discovered the bodies after Anita asked him to check on her daughter, who had not been answering her cell phone.

Video courtesy WGME

He had initially thought Daniel's body, lying face down on the porch, was a leftover Halloween decoration and walked past it to enter the home. 

Daggett then discovered spray painted messages on the kitchen counter-top, and on the walls of a room. He walked outside and called 911.

The elderly neighbor then called Anita, he told the Portland Press Herald.

'I said "Claire isn't answering, there doesn't seem to be anyone inside the house... But from what I've seen here I'm not going upstairs,"' he explained.

'And I'm glad I really didn't go upstairs.'

The Randalls had moved to Maine from Rhode Island in the summer so that Gabriel could study at nearby Hebron Academy prep school.

It is not known whether their second daughter, Molly, was living with her brother and mother.

In total, five rooms in the home (pictured behind trees) were spray-painted with messages like 'Vow breaker'. Randall had been served with divorce papers from Anita earlier in the week

According to Daggett, Daniel was 'very pleasant' and 'a take-charge, family-type person', but also said he showed signs of stress or possibly PTSD.

They included not making eye contact and starting sentences and then stopping himself. 

Daniel had been a chaplain in the Air Force, and had also been an affiliated chaplain at Roger Williams University from 2009 to 2012. 

He was also a former pastor at First Congregational Church in Bristol, Rhode Island, where he had served for 12 years.

He resigned in December 2014, and said in a resignation letter that the decision was 'challenging' but 'also is flavored with a hopeful and peaceful feeling'.

Claire was one of three children. Her brother, sister and mother were all out of the house when the murder-suicide took place. Randall had been a chaplain in the Air Force and at a university

'Anita has served in a variety of roles. But, most of all, she has been the steady and strong supporter and vibrant energy for our family during our time here,' he wrote.

'I know how much you all love her. My love for her is endless, as is my gratitude.'

Friends and acquaintances of Claire said she was a gifted musician who was passionate about domestic violence prevention and substance abuse treatment. 

Claire lived in Brooklyn, New York, and wrote and sang for various music groups, The Portland Press Herald reported.

She was valedictorian at her Rhode Island high school and later earned a music degree from Wesleyan University in Connecticut. 

Her friends said she was thoughtful, confident and had a great sense of humor.