Washington, Dec 17 (IANS/EFE): The former Marine reservist suspected in the killings of six people in suburban Philadelphia was found dead Tuesday, authorities said.

The body discovered in a wooded area near the suspect's home in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania, is that of Bradley William Stone, the Montgomery county district attorney's office confirmed.

Stone, 35, allegedly killed ex-wife Nicole Stone and five members of her family.

Early Monday, an anonymous 911 call sent police to a home in Lansdale, where they found Stone's former mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law dead.

Nicole Stone, her sister and brother-in-law and their 14-year-old daughter were killed at another location.

The sister's other child, a 17-year-male, was wounded and remains hospitalised in stable condition.

Bradley Stone took his two daughters, who were living with Nicole, to the residence of one of his neighbours in Pennsburg at around 5:30 a.m. Monday.

The Bucks County Courier Times reported that Stone, who served, in Iraq, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. He was a member of the US Marine Corps Reserves from 2002-2011.

A man matching Stone's description accosted a man walking his dog Monday night in Doylestown.

Brandishing a knife, the assailant demanded the man's car keys, but then fled on foot after a struggle. The man was carrying a gun and fired several shots at the suspect as he ran away.