On the night of June 17th, 2011, Christopher Moyer made a chilling 911 call. He calmly reported the murders of his wife, Irina, and seven-year-old son, Dylan. When the dispatcher asked if he had killed his family, Moyer’s response was stark: “Yes, I did.” He went on to assert that they were indeed dead, ending the call with an unsettling, “Thank you.”
Chris Moyer eerie calmness added an even stranger twist to the call—murderers are rarely so composed when confessing their crimes. In retrospect, Chris’s composed demeanor made sense; he had no intention of living much longer after that call.
Chris Moyer was supposed to drop his son off at his grandparents’ house that evening
Christopher Moyer, a vibrant and talented individual, grew up as an only child in the charming village of Neffs, nestled in the North Whitehall Township of Pennsylvania. With a passion for music, he played the trumpet in middle school and later joined Parkland High School, where his talents continued to flourish. Following his high school graduation, Moyer pursued higher education at Kutztown University.
Earlier that day, Moyer’s father, Warren, had a heartwarming conversation with his son. “We spoke on Friday morning, and he was in high spirits,” Warren shared with The Morning Call. Chris had eagerly talked about renewing a contract with a client, a sign of his dedication and enthusiasm for his work.
Warren recounted that during a follow-up call, Christopher abruptly declared he didn’t want to talk anymore. Christopher was scheduled to drop Dylan off at his maternal grandparents’ house on the evening of the 17th.
Theresa Yanny, one of Dylan’s teachers, shared with the Bucks County Courier Times that she often suspected Dylan spent a considerable amount of time with his grandparents. His artwork frequently depicted scenes of him joyously playing with them.
The moment Chris decided to commit the unthinkable remains shrouded in mystery. Nevertheless, at some point on that fateful Friday night, Moyer brutally struck his sleeping wife in the head with a baseball bat, ending her life. He then dragged her lifeless body into the bathroom and, chillingly, placed a towel over her face, authorities revealed to the media.
Christopher then walked down the hallway to Dylan’s room, where he brutally bludgeoned his son to death, leaving the bloodied baseball bat beside the lifeless body. With no signs of a struggle, police deduced that Irina and Dylan were likely asleep when the horrific attacks began.
In a chilling twist, Dylan had left a note on the front door with a list of family members’ names and phone numbers for authorities to contact. Mere minutes after the 911 call, police swarmed the Warrington home, surrounding the house. Unaware that Christopher had already fled, they desperately tried to reach anyone inside.
Eventually, they breached the residence and made a grim discovery—Irina’s parents had driven over, worried after failing to reach the Moyers. Alongside Irina’s brother and sister-in-law, they learned the heartbreaking news at the scene.
Meanwhile, authorities found Christopher’s body on train tracks just moments after SEPTA reported a train collision. It appeared he had timed it perfectly, laying his head on the rails and awaiting the inevitable.
No signs of trouble at home, and Chris seemed to adore Dylan
The Bucks County Coroner’s Office revealed that Irina and Dylan tragically succumbed to blunt-force trauma to the head. County Coroner Walter Hoffman reported to the Bucks County Courier Times that Chris’ death was ruled a suicide due to multiple body traumas. In just a few hours, a family that once appeared loving and happy was shattered.
Chris Moyer and Irina Elizabeth Geller, originally from Ukraine, tied the knot in 2002. Just a year later, they became one of the first families to settle into the Redstone Drive neighborhood. Neighbors told the Courier Times that the Gellers were a private couple, rarely seen at community events.
One neighbor described Chris as standoffish and curt; another called him ‘quirky’. Rose Radziul, a local resident, added, “I think he [Christopher] was controlling. But I didn’t think it would ever come to this.”
Despite their reserved nature, Chris and Irina’s quiet demeanor seemed harmless. Neighbors never witnessed any fights or arguments, and records showed no criminal charges or reports of domestic violence involving the Gellers. Both were computer experts who worked from home and appeared to live comfortably from their professions.
Furthermore, Chris and Irina adored their son. Neighbors often saw Chris holding Dylan’s hand as the little one learned to walk down the street. “I just can’t believe it. He absolutely loved that little boy,” another neighbor shared with the Courier Times. Lynda Costello mentioned that Chris and Irina were very involved in their child’s education:
“They always asked great questions. Chris seemed so down-to-earth. They were parents who genuinely wanted their son to succeed in school. You could tell they read together at home.”
Costello marveled at Dylan, describing him as a child with above-average intelligence and an ‘adult-like’ vocabulary. “He would ask me questions that caught me off guard because he used words far beyond a typical kindergarten level,” Costello recalled. “And he was always eager to learn more.”
Lynda shared that Dylan had a passion for nonfiction literature and would seize any opportunity to read. Costello also noted that his voice carried a touch of Irina’s Slavic intonation, and he mimicked his mother’s expressions. Lynda wrapped it up perfectly:
“When you finished helping him — I’ll never forget how he’d look up at you with those eyes. He would always say, ‘Thank you,’ and smile that beautiful smile. He had such a beautiful smile.”
Experts theorized that Chris murdered his family because he believed they were better off dead.
The investigators struggled to uncover a motive for the tragic double murder-suicide. In the end, they concluded that financial problems drove Chris to this horrific act.
In 2006, the couple managed to avoid foreclosure and paid off a federal lien. Records indicated that the state had filed a $2,228 commonwealth lien on the family’s home. Authorities mentioned they discovered $1,300 in Chris’ pockets and noted he had sent messages to family members apologizing for his actions.
Dr. Rocio Nell shared with the Courier Times that parents who take such drastic actions towards their children are often influenced by substance abuse or overwhelming despair. Nell explained that suicidal individuals who harm loved ones often believe their loved ones are better off deceased.
In Chris’ situation, he likely thought that Dylan would suffer greatly without a parent, so his tragic act was seen as an act of mercy. Tony Salvatore, chair of Montgomery County’s Suicide Prevention Team, agreed, saying:
“In the father’s mind, when some people, especially men, become suicidal and think the world would be better off without them, they also believe their loved ones would be better off not being there either.”
Salvatore noted that Chris seemed calm during the call because he had already decided to end his life. “Sometimes people appear robotic,” Salvatore remarked. “They’ve mentally checked out and no longer feel anxious about their decision.”
