The Montgomery County, Pennsylvania man who went on a rampage last week killing his ex-wife and her family died from an overdose of drugs often used to treat people who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD, according to a final autopsy by the county's medical examiner.

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman released the medical examiner’s report Tuesday afternoon that revealed how Bradley Stone and the six people authorities said he killed died.

Bradley Stone died from a "combined drug intoxication" after ingesting Trazodone, Risperidone and mCPP, blood tests conducted by Forensic Pathologist Dr. Isadore Mihalikas found. The 35-year-old's death was ruled suicide.

Stone's body was discovered in a wooded area of Upper Hanover Township, just a half a mile from his home in Pennsburg, on Dec. 16 -- a day after police said he carried out the three town killing spree.

Next to him were blood-coated knives, a large machete and double-bladed black ax, that are believed to have been used in the murders. Two medicine bottles, including one with crushed up powder inside, were found on Stone's person as well as an energy drink container that had powder around the lip, the ME said.

Trazodone is used to treat depression and also "commonly used in the treatment of insomnia and nightmares in patients with PTSD," according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Risperidone is an antipsychotic medication used to treat both schizophrenia and symptoms but also been used to improve psychiatric symptoms of PTSD. The other substance found in Stone's system, mCPP is an ecstasy-like recreational drug taken orally or snorted.

The Department of Veterans Affairs confirmed last week that Stone had post-traumatic stress disorder.

Stone’s body had a three of superficial cut wounds as well as a seven-centimeter deep wound to his upper thigh. He had 10 scratches to his face and neck as well, the report stated.

In an initial examination last week, Montgomery County Coroner Dr. Walter Hoffman said Stone suffered no trauma to his body, then clarified that although Stone did have a cut to his leg, it was not something that caused his death.

Stone brutally attacked his ex-wife, Nicole Hill Stone, and six members of her family with knives and a gun over a 90 minute period in the early in the morning on Dec. 15. Six members of the family died.

Hill Stone's 17-year-old nephew Anthony Flick is the lone survivor. He suffered a gaping head wound and serious cuts to his arm. Flick left the hospital Monday.

The autopsy report also outlined the injuries the victims suffered.

Stone's first stop on the killing spree brought him to the Souderton home of Hill Stone's sister, Trisha Flick.

The 36-year-old was shot in the head and also suffered gunshot wounds to her arm and had a gaping "chop" wound to her head. Her husband Aaron "A.J." Flick had "chopping" injuries to his hands and head and was shot in the hand. Tricia and A.J.'s 14-year-old daughter, Nina, died from 12 chopping wounds to her head and one to the back of her neck. Anthony Flick was also left to die in the home for hours until police could come in and retrieve him.

Moving to the Lansdale home of Hill Stone's mother and grandmother, Stone killed both of them in a second floor bedroom. The mother, 57-year-old Joanne Gilbert, was shot in the face and had her throat slashed. Grandmother Patricia Hill, 75, was shot in the face and cuts to her arm.

Hill Stone was the last to be killed. The 33-year-old was shot multiple times, just feet away from the couple's two daughters, aged 8 and 5, in her Lower Salford apartment. The children were not hurt.

Detectives recovered the handgun used in the murders inside Hill Stone's apartment, prosecutors said. Though, he was not allowed to own them since he had been found guilty of driving under the influence in April 2013.

Prosecutors said Stone hid the gun, which was purchased in 2011, and two others from probation officers during 17 home visits over the past year. Seven were unscheduled and the most recent was on Dec. 8.

That day, officials said, Stone met with a military psychologist and did not have any suicidal or homicidal thoughts.

One of the guns remains missing. Officials have notified the FBI about the missing weapon.

A Corona girl with Down syndrome received a new wheelchair from a San Diego donor Monday, after hers was stolen off her porch last week.

Jocelyn Ordones, 4, and her family were heartbroken when the chair she relies on to complete day-to-day tasks, including being able to go to school, was taken by a real-life Grinch.

"She's helpless," Alex Flores, Ordones' sister told NBC 4 Los Angeles Friday. "She's dependent on us."

San Diego Down Syndrome stepped up and surprised the family with the $2,500 chair. Because the family has struggled to make ends meet recently, the purchase of a replacement would have been impossible.

After the Corona community caught wind of the theft, an outpouring of support flooded the family, offering help and coming together to find a solution.

"We found out that this wheelchair was a little small for her age," said San Diego Down Syndrome's John Leslie. "And we were able to actually get a larger wheelchair that would be better equipped for her for the next six to seven years of her life, for her to grow into."

Corona police officers began seeking the help of multiple organizations to find the right chair for Jocelyn, and their efforts became a success when they teamed up with Leslie and San Diego Down Syndrome.

"The family was extremely grateful of this special delivery this afternoon," Corona police said in a statement. "We want to thank our entire community for taking a tragic event and making it a special Christmas for this family."

Coincidentally, police said the stolen chair was recovered just hours before the new one was to be delivered, NBC 4 reported.

A courier delivering two coolers to Sharp Memorial Hospital's pathology department was involved in a serious crash Monday, according to San Diego Fire-Rescue.

The single-vehicle accident happened just before 9 p.m. on northbound State Route 163 near Genesee Avenue in Linda Vista.

The driver was taken to Sharp Memorial with major injuries, according to fire officials. There was no one else inside the car.

Officials did not specify what was inside the coolers. They said another hospital worker came to the crash site to retrieve them.

There is no word on the man's condition. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Check back for updates on this developing stories.

A San Diego State University basketball player collapsed on the court Monday night, bringing the game to a standstill.

Forward Dwayne Polee II fell to the ground with 11 minutes to go in the first half in the game against UC Riverside at Viejas Arena.

The crowd held its breath as medics tended to Polee. After a long 10 minutes, he was taken off the court in a stretcher. He appeared to be alert.

The arena gave No. 5 a standing ovation and chanted "Polee, Polee" as he was carted away. The game then resumed. 

It’s unclear why Polee collapsed. The athletic department tweeted that he was taken to the hospital but did not give an update on his condition.

Check back for updates on this developing story.
 

People living inside an Encinitas mansion known for criminal activity set off a type of tear gas throughout the house when they realized officers were serving a search warrant Tuesday.

The officers arrived shortly before 9 a.m. on Rancho Encinitas Drive where residents had deployed a non-lethal chemical agent after hearing the officers outside the house. Several people were handcuffed and escorted out of the house later.

Nick Backouris, with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, said officials had received multiple complaints about the 4,000 sq. ft. home over the past several years and the home has been a headache for the community. He had said at a brief press conference earlier that they had a warrant for some drug and some gang activity.

“It’s been a chronic problem in the community for a number of years now," he said.

When NBC 7's Matt Rascon last spoke with Backouris, he said they had found pharmaceutical drugs, though he did not specify what quantity.

“We’re looking for evidence of different crimes in an attempt to make the community a little better for the folks around here," said Backouris.

NBC 7 footage from the scene shows two women and two men -- one elderly and one younger man -- being escorted from the house in handcuffs and driven off in patrol cars. Two other men were escorted out of the house and into a sheriff's car as well.

Homeowner Anastasia Kirkeby, one of the arrested, was charged with furnishing a home under the use of narcotics. Daughter Francesca was also arrested recently for drug charges. The residents had two dogs which officials took because there was no one left in the house to take care of them.

Backouris said officers found crawl spaces below the house floors during their search, though they did not know how they were used.

Officials are in a hurry to finish their work so neighbors do not have to deal with the situation over the holidays, Backouris said.

The owner of the house lives there and the people inside were being cooperative, he said, though the Fire Department was on scene with fans to disperse CS gas inside the home.

“During the execution of the search warrant there was some chemical agents that were deployed in the house," Backouris said, later adding that residents inside the house dispersed that non-lethal chemical agent when officers arrived because they did not want to go outside.

The concession company that runs Yosemite National Park has quietly informed the National Park Service it owns the name of some of the park's most famous spots, including the historic Ahwahnee Hotel, according to documents filed with the park service.

As a result, the park, which is owned by the federal government and paid for with American tax dollars, would no longer have the right use to those names, unless the park service pays the company, upstate New York-based Delaware North, $51 million in "intellectual property rights."

"The National Park Service was surprised to receive this notification," Yosemite spokesman Scott Gediman said by phone on Wednesday. He added that the park service founders, more than 150 years ago, never "separated who owned the name, and who owned the facilities," and never thought to trademark the names of the historic hotels and lodges. "These names pre-date the contract with Delaware North. These names belong to the American people."

In addition to the famous Ahwahnee Hotel, the company also operates Badger Pass, Curry Village, the Wawona Hotel, and Yosemite Lodge. In all, Delaware North operates about 1,500 guest rooms, 25 food and drink stands, and 19 retail locations within Yosemite.

In a lengthy email to NBC Bay Area on Wednesday afternoon,  Delaware North at Yosemite Director of Marketing Jim Stellmack explained what he called a "complex" issue. He said that the National Park Service required his company to buy the stock from the previous concessionaire, the Yosemite Park and Curry Co.,  which it turn made Delaware North the owners of  those assets, which are both "tangible and intangible." Stellmack compared the issue to when the National  Park Service gave intellectual property rights over to "The Ansel Adams Gallery" in Yosemite, "Verkamp's," a shop previously operated in the Grand Canyon and the logo for the Red Bus Tours in Glacier National Park, which the previous concessionaire would not sell to the successor.

In a follow-up phone interview, Stellmark said the naming rights have been trademarked "all along," since before Delaware North took over in 1993, and it's likely coming to light now as his company's contract is up for renewal.

The trademark issue was first reported Wednesday by the alternative weekly, the East Bay Express.

Amy Trainer, executive director of the Environmental Action Committee of West Marin,  who keeps close tabs on the national park system, said the move to trademark such high-profile park institutions is likely unprecedented.

"I don't know that this has ever happened before," Trainer told NBC Bay Area. "It will be a real travesty if this company is allowed to hijack the name of one of America's most beloved places and hold it for ransom. It won't change the majesty of the Ahwahnee Hotel, but certainly something will be lost."

To be clear, Delaware North does not own the Ahwahnee Hotel and the other commercial venues it has operated since 1993. Those are part of the park system and are public property.

But the company believes it has a right to own the names of the famous venues.

With most public park systems, taxpayers owns the actual park, but private companies operate the hotel, lodges and restaurants. Delaware North was recently recognized for its "effective sustainability efforts," its company website states, at other parks it operates, including Yellowstone National Park and the Kalalock Lodge in Olympic National Park.

Beginning on July 12, Delaware North sent a series of letters to the park service, stating that it owned the tradename and servicemark registrations for all of the names of businesses, restaurants and lodges it operates within Yosemite National Park. The company sent those letters as the park service began soliciting bids for a new concessionaire's agreement at Yosemite National Park.

This week, the park service extended the Jan. 8 deadline for prospective concessionaires to submit applications for the Yosemite contract to January 21. Yosemite leaders could choose the next concessionaire in March or April, Gediman said. If the park service continues to contract with Delaware North, then the current names stay as is and no one would know that the company owned them. Gediman told NBC Bay Area that in its years of service, Delaware North has done a fine job.

Of course, the park service could choose to go with another company to run its hotels and lodges.

But, according to documents filed with the federal government, Delaware North the park service must pay it $51 million in "intellectual property rights" fees for the right to continue to use the names if another concessionaire is chosen. Stellmack said that amount includes not just the names but "lots of stuff," including mailing lists and other crucial assets.

It's not as if the hotels and lodges would disappear. But there is a chance they could be forced to operate under a completely different name. That might be confusing and sad for those who know the place in American history the venues hold. The Ahwahnee Hotel, for example, was built in 1927 as a place where affluent travelers could stay to see stunning views of Half Dome, Yosemite Falls and Glacier Point. The Wawona Hotel was built in 1876. Both hotels are National Historic Landmarks.

On Monday, the park service issued a memo to prospective concessionaires asserting that it does, in fact, own the rights to Yosemite's most famous names. But that only applies if another company earns the Yosemite bid and would not necessarily apply to Delaware North.

Trainer told NBC Bay Area National Park Service lawyers "may need to consider filing trademark and servicemark claims for all national parks if Delaware North prevails at Yosemite."

Gediman said, at this point, no legal action has been taken against Delaware North. But, he added, "clearly we're looking into that."

Chargers safety Eric Weddle is heading back to the Pro Bowl. He was selected Tuesday to his second straight and third career NFL postseason all-star game.

Three other Chargers were also named as alternates: tight end Antonio Gates and safety/special teams player Darrell Stuckey were named first alternates and quarterback Philip Rivers is a second alternate.

Because of injuries and other commitments, many of the alternates get the opportunity to play in the game, so expect a few of those familiar faces at University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona on Jan. 25.

Weddle also made the Pro Bowl in 20011. This year, he leads the team in tackles with 105.

The Pro Bowl team selection is based on fan, coach and player voting. The format will again be “unconferenced,” meaning the pool of players will be picked onto two teams by alumni captains Cris Carter and Michael Irvin.

They will hold a player "draft" on Jan. 20-21.

Surveillance video released Monday shows three people running from the scene of a deadly fight in the Gaslamp District.

Eric Galen Hatcher, 29, was found lying in the road at G Street and Fourth Avenue around 2 a.m. Dec. 14. He had suffered serious head trauma and died a few days later.

Authorities are searching for the man they believe threw the fatal punch. He’s described as a light-skinned man between 25 and 30 years old, about 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds, wearing a two-tone gray and black hooded blazer, a dark t-shirt, dark pants and white shoes.

They’re also looking for two “persons of interest” seen running in the surveillance footage. One is a light-skinned man between 25 and 30 years old, about 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds in a long-sleeve shirt, a puffy vest, dark pants and dark shoes. The other is a Caucasian woman between 21 and 26, an estimated 5-foot-5 and 120 pounds, with long blond hair. She was wearing a long red dress, dress shoes and a light-colored knee-length jacket, according to Crime Stoppers.

Kassandra Lopez and others who work downtown hope the surveillance video will lead to a break in the case.

“If other people were here that witnessed it and then they see that, they should let police know if they know who it was, what direction they ran to or any features, the height, stuff like that,” Lopez said.

Anyone with information can call the San Diego Police Department Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 to remain anonymous. A $1,000 reward is being offered.

A consumer advocacy group has filed a class-action lawsuit against Aetna Inc. saying a new policy violates the privacy of people with HIV and AIDS by requiring them to get their medications from its mail-order pharmacy.

Consumer Watchdog filed the lawsuit Friday in federal court in San Diego. It says sending the drugs through the mail puts privacy at risk.

The group alleges the policy also violates the federal health care law because it discourages people with HIV and AIDS from signing up for the company's insurance.

Aetna says the policy is part of its ongoing strategy to keep health plans affordable and help with medication adherence. It says the plan is optional.

The plaintiff is a San Diego man who is anonymous in court documents. He says opting out would cost him.

One week after a Clairemont family thought their Christmas gifts were gone forever, some unexpected elves dressed in San Diego police uniforms pulled together a big holiday surprise.

The first time police arrived at the Cisneros home, it was to investigate a despicable crime. The family was robbed Saturday. Gifts wrapped and already under the tree were torn open and picked through.

San Diego Police Officer Alex Miller said it was heartbreaking.

“They opened everything and what they wanted they took,” Miller said of the thieves. “I wasn’t going to have it so I did something about it.”

Officer Alex Miller decided that Christmas for 13-year-old Daniel and 9-year-old Aldo and Aylin wasn't going to end up that way.

He reached out to fellow officers and the community for help and found the response to be overwhelming.

So on Tuesday, two nights before Christmas, San Diego Police Officers came bearing gifts – thousands of dollars in toys, and cash as well as tickets to Seaworld San Diego, the San Diego Zoo and Legoland California.

Gracie Cisneros called this her best Christmas ever. To show her gratitude she served up tamales to the officers from San Diego Police Department's Northern Division.

“You have some criminal, some Grinch come in the weekend before Christmas come in and steal all their gifts,” said Capt. Jerry Hara. “We refuse for criminals to steal Christmas and it's not going to happen on our watch.”
 

The recent rain played a role in helping contain a fire that broke out Tuesday in Pauma Valley, officials said.

A vehicle fire sparked near State Route 76 and Pauma Rancho Road around 10:30 p.m. and then spread to nearby grass.

Firefighters were initially concerned that if the fire got over a nearby ridge, it could have quickly spread to a big open area.

“We're very lucky that we had the rain that we had about a month ago with the grass crop coming up or it would have been a different story,” said Capt. Rick Johnson.

In the end, about a quarter of an acre was scorched.
 

The California Tower, the familiar sight inside San Diego’s Balboa Park will open to the public for the first time in 80 years.

The tower will open New Year's Day at noon as part of the Centennial Celebration, the city’s year-long celebration of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition.

Inspired by the churches of Mexico and Spain, the buildings connected to the San Diego Museum of Man were built in 1914 and opened as part of the exposition.

The result is a building that is so iconic to Balboa Park that you’d be hard pressed to find a tourist who hasn’t snapped an image of it while visiting.

It’s even listed in the National Register of Historic Places as part of the California Quadrangle, according to the organization’s website.

Now, you can buy tickets for tower tours at specific times in 2015.

Only those older than 6 can take the tour. It also requires the ability to climb 125 stairs in 40 minutes. Each tour can accommodate 12 people and it’s recommended that you purchase the tickets online in advance of your visit.

Click here for more information.
 

With members of the crew lining the deck, USS Peleliu returned to San Diego on Wednesday, bringing families back together just in time for the holidays.

The amphibious assault ship named for a World War II battle just completed its final mission before its decommission in March 2015.

The 1,000-member crew conducted security and stability operations and exercises throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region in cooperation with partner nations.

In its 34 years of service, the ship nicknamed the "Iron Nickel" has completed 17 deployments and traveled more than a million miles.

A 23-year-old Southern California man is accused of strangling a cat to death at his girlfriend's home, police said Wednesday.

Police arrested Sergei Smirnoff, of Long Beach, about 1:10 a.m. in the 2300 block of Carnegie Lane in Redondo Beach, where police found a dead cat in the woman's garage, Redondo Beach Police Sgt. Shawn Freeman said in a news release.

Police believe the cat was rescued from an animal shelter.

"There is no indication that Smirnoff obtained the cat to cause harm to it," Freeman said. "It appears that during a fit of rage, Smirnoff strangled the cat, which resulted in the death of the cat."

Smirnoff planned to give the woman the cat for Christmas before they started arguing, the Daily Breeze reported.

Witnesses told police they saw Smirnoff with his hands around the cat's neck in the garage, according to the Daily Breeze, but the woman was unaware of what happened until police arrived.

Smirnoff was booked on suspicion of animal cruelty and held on $20,000 bail. He is due in Torrance court on Monday.

Winds and rain may be in the Christmas forecast for San Diego.

“Winter weather is coming back,” said NBC 7 forecaster Whitney Southwick. “It’s going to be clear and sunny and chilly.”

A high wind watch was issued from Wedneday evening through 4 p.m. Thursday. Winds out of the west toward the desert will be gusting up to 45 mph. Some gusts may hit 60 mph, Southwick warns.

He's predicting overnight lows in the 30s for some sections of the county.

There is also a 20 percent chance on the west side of the mountains with a 50 to 60 percent chance of rain in the mountain areas.

High wind warnings were in effect Wednesday morning for Los Angeles and Ventura counties with gusts up to 70 mph possible in the mountains north of Los Angeles and Santa Monica Mountain range, creating hazardous crosswinds for drivers in mountain passes, including the Grapevine section of Interstate 5  and along the 101 Freeway in Santa Barbara County.

Snow levels will fall to between 4,000 and 5,000 feet by Christmas morning, according to the National Weather Service. "Mountain travel, especially through the I-5 corridor will be difficult" due to blowing snow, according to an NWS statement. 

A custom sports car and an SUV collided Christmas Eve in the North County, sending four people to the hospital.

The accident happened just after 2 p.m. Wednesday in the 4400 block of La Orilla in Rancho Santa Fe. La Orilla will be closed between El Camino Real and Rambla De Las Flores until 5 p.m. Wednesday, the California Highway Patrol estimated.

CHP said the crash caused major injuries. Of the four people hurt, two were taken to Scripps La Jolla, according to the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District.

The accident involved an Ariel Atom and a large maroon SUV. There is no word yet what caused the crash.

Check back for updates on this developing story.
 

Police cruisers full of gifts pulled up to a home to surprise a North Miami Beach family on Christmas Eve.

On Tuesday, thieves broke in to Pedro Huanmanchumo's home, stealing all but a handful of presents from underneath the family's Christmas tree.

The family of eight, including four children, were left heartbroken.

North Miami Beach Police Officer Carlos Paretz responded to the burglary call. Moved by the family's plight, he and Sgt. Juan Pinillos reached out to fellow officers to replace the stolen gifts.

"I mean, to be burglarized is devastating alone, toppled that with the fact you have no gifts for your children," Pinillos said. "So this is the least that we could do for the citizens in our community."

"We cannot undo what happened, but we can very much let them know we have a heart," said Chief Scott Dennis.

Officers brought in new toys, games, and hundreds of dollars' worth of gift cards, bringing tears of joy to Huanmanchumo.

"I never think this is going to happen, never," Huanmanchumo said, wiping his eyes. "Thank you."

Two women connected by a desire to help others reunited on Christmas Eve to get their hands dirty — literally.

Amanda Heinlein's Azusa home has been punished by mudslides every time rain falls in Southern California — the piles of rocks and mud nearly 6 feet tall.

But help arrived Wednesday morning when Marine Cpl. Priscilla Taylor called to help dig the home out of the dirt.

"She called and said, 'You know, it's Christmas Eve, I have the day off, and I'd like to come and see what I can do to help,'" Heinlein said.

Heinlein and Taylor met earlier this year after Heinlein signed up for the Adopt A Soldier program. Heinlein sent monthly care packages to Taylor, a single mother, and even saw her off when she was deployed to Afghanistan around March.

While Taylor was deployed, the pair corresponded often, and Heinlein went above and beyond her own call of duty.

"She would take my son on play dates with her while I was gone," Taylor said. "It's just the little things she did that really meant a lot to me ... A person like that is very rare to find, so I'm very blessed to have her in my life."

The pair had only met twice before Wednesday — once during Taylor's deployment, and once during her return. Taylor, now based in Camp Pendleton, rolled up her sleeves to return the favor on Christmas Eve morning.

"I just thought, this is your time, this is your freedom and you just got back and you can do whatever you want and you've chose to come here and help me," Heinlein said. "How can you be any more of a servant?"