Jolly Roger Hoisted At Death House

"Phoenix, AZ - A black flag with skull and crossbones hung outside the house where two women found a couple dead Thursday after an apparent murder-suicide.

"Friends and neighbors filled the street in front of the house as investigators swarmed the area around 1 p.m. to piece together how the man and woman died in the northwest Phoenix neighborhood.

"Officers found the unidentified victims in the 2900 block of West Villa Maria Drive, near Union Hills Drive and 29th Avenue, after receiving a call from one of the two women.

"The couple lived together at the home, according to friends. Some neighbors said a group of young people who lived at the home often argued and partied late-night.

"Other neighbors said they heard gunshots earlier in the afternoon, though Phoenix Detective Cindy Scott said police could not confirm if the victims were discovered with gunshot wounds.

"Ron Lyell, 51, who lives next door, said he was working from home and pulling weeds in his front yard when one of two women - friends of the victims - came out of the house crying.

"`I went over and grabbed her on the shoulder,` Lyell said. `She was crying so hard she couldn't tell me anything.`

"Lyell said the woman told police she found the female victim shot to death with a gunshot wound to her chest, while the male victim was found, `lying in a pool of blood.` He said he never heard any shots fired.

"A U-Haul truck with a vehicle tow sat parked in front of the house, taped off as part of the crime scene."

From AZ Central...