Man hurt in Tavares murder-suicide dies

Eddie Ratliff dies in incident where man killed girlfriend, family with bat

TAVARES, Fla. – A man who was taken to the hospital after being involved in a murder-suicide where a man went on a horrific bat attack, killing his girlfriend, her mother and then himself, died at the hospital Wednesday.

[RELATED: Victims, suspect ID'd in murder-suicide]

Authorities said Eddie Ratliff died around 3 p.m. Wednesday at Ocala Regional Hospital, according to city spokeswoman Joyce Ross.

Tavares police said the murder-suicide happened Monday evening at the home they all shared on Hibiscus Court.

Police said 31-year-old James Earl Jones beat Mavis Ratliff, 42-year-old Shannon Ratliff and Ratliff at the home.

Police have not identified a motive, but friends and neighbors said they believe Jones, a schizophrenic, may have not been taking his medication and snapped.

Ratliff was in serious condition when he was taken to the hospital, where he later died Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

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