(Image source from: Husbands embark on killing estranged wives)

Two eerily similar murder-suicide rampage in different towns of Mesa and Phoenix have left the cops floundered.

Mike Sanders from Mesa drove out of his Phoenix home, pulled over a couple of blocks away, barged into a house and shot dead his estranged wife, teen daughter and brother-in-law before shooting himself to death.

The dead bodies of Carol Sanders, 51, their 14-year-old daughter, Audrey, and Carol Sanders' 49-year-old brother, Thomas Fitzpatrick, were recovered on Tuesday afternoon. Sanders' body was discovered a short distance away along a bridle path behind the home.

Back in Phoenix, officials succeeded to foil a similar plan after Carlos Hillan's (34) roomie informed the police about his devious plan to kill his estranged wife.

Police nabbed Hillan as he jumped a back fence, carrying a gas can and lighter, officers said.

Hillan and his wife, Sarah, parted ways a month ago. Later, he found out she was dating someone new. In a fit of rage, Hillan told his roommate that he was going to kill them both before committing a suicide.

AW: Suchorita Dutta Choudhury