Monday, November 30, 2009

Argument Preceded New Jersey Murder/Suicide


"ELIZABETH, NJ - A man fatally shot his common-law wife this weekend before turning the weapon on himself, authorities said today.

"Maria Alvarez, 45, was found with a gunshot wound to the chest when police were called to the couple's home in the 700 block of Magie Avenue about 8:20 p.m. Saturday night, according to the Union County Prosecutor's Office.

"Argael Rincon, 52, was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Both were pronounced dead at the scene, the prosecutor's office said.

"The prosecutor's office said a relative told authorities the pair had been arguing before shots were fired.

"The Union County Medical Examiner classified the shooting as a murder-suicide, the prosecutor's office said. A .32 caliber handgun was recovered at the scene, according to the prosecutor's office."


From nj.com...

Nursing Home Horror


"VERO BEACH, FL - Police on Monday morning were investigating a possible murder-suicide at a nursing home that left a husband and wife dead.

"Police were called shortly before 9 a.m. to the Royal Palm Convalescent Center in the 2100 block of 10th Avenue.

"The couple were in the courtyard when witnesses heard gunfire, Indian River County Fire Marshal Brian Nolan said.

"No further details were released."


Source: SunSentinel.com...

Sunday, November 29, 2009

"Jerry Shot Me"


"SAN ANTONIO, TX - San Antonio police arrested a 41-year-old man early Sunday morning, when he allegedly tried to kill himself and his 25-year-old wife in their North Side home.

"Jerry Contreras is being held in Bexar County Jail on one count of attempted murder; his bond is set at $50,000. He was originally booked by proxy at University Hospital, where both he and his wife, April Contreras, were taken to be treated for gunshot wounds. She remains hospitalized in stable condition, officials said.

"Officers were called to the couple's home in the 1200 block of Basse Road around 1:30 a.m., when a neighbor called police to report that a man had shot his wife in the head in an attempted murder-suicide. April Contreras was in the shower when she sustained a gunshot wound to the jaw, according to a San Antonio Police Department incident report, and her husband of several months was found slumped over, sitting in a pool of blood nearby.

"According to Bexar County records, the couple's marriage license was validated in February 2009. It was not immediately clear what led to the shooting.

"The report states that April Contreras was screaming, `Jerry shot me,` and `help him, he shot himself,` when officers arrived at the home. Police recovered a .22-caliber rifle believed to have been used in the shooting, and the couple was taken to University Hospital, where Jerry Contreras was booked by proxy, officials said.

"He was treated and released to the Bexar County Jail around 7:30 a.m."


From mysanantonio.com...

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Police Stop Concludes Murder/Suicide

"SAUK VILLAGE, IL - A Markham man, after shooting his ex girlfriend and killing a man she was with in Sauk Village, turned the gun on himself when police stopped him later Friday night.

"About 9:10 p.m. Friday, Sauk Village police got a call of a shooting in the 22000 block of Jeffrey Avenue, according to a release from Sauk Village police. When officers got to the scene, they found a woman who had been shot. She was taken to a local hospital, police said.

"Officers also found a second victim, 43-year-old Robert Allen of Carthage, Miss., dead in a nearby driveway.

"Allen was taken to St. Margaret Mercy Hospital in Dyer, Ind. where he was pronounced dead at 10:45 p.m., according to the Lake County, Ind. Coroner's Office. Allen had been shot multiple times.

"The suspect was identified and a flash message was broadcast over the Illinois State Police Emergency Radio Network, with information on the suspect and his vehicle, the release said.

"The suspect, identified as Paul Gunn, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office, was later stopped by police in the area of 162nd and Dixie Highway in Markham. Gunn, who was armed, turned the weapon on himself and shot himself. He was taken to Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, where he was pronounced dead at 10:44 p.m., according to the medical examiner's office.

"The woman who was shot was reportedly the girlfriend or ex-girlfriend of Gunn's, according to a source. Gunn lived at 49 W. 159th St., according to the medical examiner's office.

"Police are continuing to investigate the shootings and had no further details Saturday morning."


From the Chicago Sun-Times...

Thanksgiving Murder/Suicide


"RANDOLPH COUNTY, AL - A tragic Thanksgiving in East Alabama, as police investigate a murder-suicide.

"Randolph County Sheriff Jeff Fuller [said] 28-year-old Tracy Ward shot his wife Thursday around noon, outside a house on County Road 7 - that's in the Swagg Community, near Wedowee.

"Other family members inside the home called 911 but Sheriff Fuller says Ward, armed with a rifle, kept medics from treating his wife.

"Then, when deputies showed up, they say Ward shot and killed himself.

"His wife was pronounced dead at the hospital. Her name has not been released yet, while officials contact her next of kin.

"Tracy Ward and his wife leave behind two children, ages 3 and 5.

"As for the murder-suicide, the Alabama Bureau of Investigation is now investigating, along with the Randolph County Sheriff's Department."


From WTVM.com...

2 Dead, 1 Injured In Oregon Murder/Suicide


"FOREST GROVE, OR - Two people died and one person was wounded in an apparent murder suicide in Forest Grove on Friday night.

"Forest Grove police were called to the 2500 block of 21st Avenue at about 6:30 p.m. after a report of a shooting at a home in the area.

"When they arrived, they found one woman dead and one man injured. Police said they found signs of forced entry into the home and then found a man dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Forest Grove police.

"A gun used in the shooting was recovered by authorities, police said.

"Investigators believe the man found dead was the shooter and they're not looking for any other suspects.

"A LifeFlight helicopter rushed the wounded man to the hospital. His condition is unknown.

"Police were trying to contact family to interview them Friday night. The names of the people involved were not released, but officers said all of the people involved are related. They also said there has been a history of domestic issues involving the family.

"Neighbors suggested that the shooting involved a couple and their adult son.

"The case is still under investigation."


From KPTV.com...

Friday, November 27, 2009

Two Injured During Attempted Murder/Suicide


"JACKSON, MS - Jackson police have tentatively identified the man who allegedly killed himself after shooting his girlfriend in a domestic dispute Thanksgiving day.

"Rodney Magee, 24, allegedly shot girlfriend Erica Rogers Thursday evening at the Wingfield Apartments on Raymond Road. Magee is then believed to have turned the gun on himself, Jackson Police Department spokesman Joseph Daughtry said.

"`It appears to be a domestic disturbance, but police are continuing to investigate,` Daughtry said today.

"Daughtry said Rogers, who was shot, and her cousin, Gwendolyn Rogers, who jumped through a window in the apartment when gunfire erupted, are recovering from their injures at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

"Gwendolyn Rogers is believed to have broken her ankle when she jumped from the third-floor apartment."


From clarionregister.com...

Nameless North Dakota Couple Found Dead


"WALHALLA, ND - A man and woman were found dead in a home in Walhalla, N.D., Thursday morning.

"The Pembina Co. Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call to the home at about 3 a.m., said Chief Deputy Sheriff Jeff Osvold.

"The home is located within the city limits of Walhalla, a town of about 1,000 located 100 miles north and west of Grand Forks.

"Authorities are not releasing the names of the man or woman, pending an investigation and notification of family members, Osvald said. Other information, such as their ages or relationship to one another or how they died, also is not being released at this time, he said.

"The bodies were sent to Bismarck for autopsies, he said. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation is assisting in the investigation."


Source: GrandForksHerald.com...

1 Dead, 1 Injured In Montana Murder/Suicide


"FORT BENTON, MT - One person is dead and another is hospitalized after what appears to be a murder and attempted suicide in Fort Benton on Thanksgiving day.

"Local authorities [said] that Fort Benton police were dispatched to an apartment complex around 5:00 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, where they found a dead woman, an apparent victim of a homicide.

"A man who was an acquaintance of the victim was found lying near a pickup truck parked in the street with a self-inflicted gun shot wound.

"The man was taken to Missouri River Medical Center in Fort Benton, then sent by Mercy Flight to Great Falls. He has since been transferred to a Seattle hospital with life-threatening injuries.

"We talked with a neighbor in the area who tells us the victim in the case was managing the apartment complex and in the process of remodeling some of the apartments.

"We're told neither the suspect or the victim lived in the apartment where the shooting occurred and that it was currently vacant.

"At this time, it's not clear how many shots were fired but one of the neighbors reported that two shots were heard yesterday afternoon around 4:30, but the family thought it was nearby deer hunters.

"The State Division of Criminal Investigation is currently investigating the case, with assistance from Fort Benton Police and the Chouteau County Sheriff's office."


Source: Montana's News Station...

Murder Discovered After Suicide


"CHICAGO, IL - A woman found murdered in a Garfield Park apartment early Friday on the West Side was possibly shot to death by her husband—who then took his own life.

"Claudette Coleman, 30, was found fatally shot in her home at 3429 W. Madison St. early Friday, a spokesman for the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office said. She was shot multiple times, police said.

"Police responded to the Madison Street apartment building just before 2 a.m. -- three hours after Coleman’s husband was found with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on the street in the 3300 block of W. Monroe St., police said.

"Antwone Coleman, 28, of the Madison Street address, reportedly shot himself and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:20 a.m., according to the medical examiner’s office. Police responded to the shooting at 11 p.m. Thursday. A weapon was recovered at the scene, said News Affairs Officer Robert Perez.

"As police investigated Antwone Coleman’s apparent suicide, they found Claudette’s body in the couple's home. She was pronounced dead on the scene at 4:40 a.m., and it was unclear what time the murder occurred.

"The incident appears to be a murder-suicide, according to a source. The pair were married in October, Perez said."


Source: Chicago Sun-Times...

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Attempted Murder/Suicide In West Virginia


"CHAPMANVILLE, WV - The Chapmanville Police Department is investigating a shooting that happened about 8:30 p.m. on Bowling Alley Street (approximately here???) in Logan County.

"According to Chapmanville Police, one man was killed and a woman was injured after what appears to be a murder suicide attempt.

"Logan County dispatchers [said] the two were taken to Logan Regional Hospital.

"No more details have been released."


From WOWKtv.com...

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

"Everybody Seemed Happy"


"ADDISON, IL - The Addison Police Department is investigating a murder-suicide at home in the village, officers said.

"Responding to a 911 call, police found a man and women and two boys dead when they arrived at the home in the 200 block of South Wisconsin Avenue around 6:30 a.m. this morning, officers said.

"`Preliminary investigations indicate this incident is isolated to this address, therefore area residents should not be alarmed further acts of violence will occur as a result of this incident,` the Addison Police Department said in a news release.

"Police department officials are on the scene. They continue to investigate, but would not release further information about the incident.

"The street has been blocked off and police tape surrounds several homes on the block. Neighbors have gathered outside to recall memories of the family they characterized as nice and normal people.

"John Kruse, a resident of 11 years, lives three houses away from the scene of the murder-suicide.

"`They seemed like a typical, normal family,` Kruse said. `Everybody seemed happy.`

"Eight-year resident James Vega echoed similar sentiments.

"`I would see the kids outside playing,` he said. `I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary.`"


From MySuburbanLife.com...

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

1 Dead, 1 Hospitalized In Attempted Murder/Suicide


"SURREY, British Columbia - A 69-year-old woman was stabbed to death and a 74-year-old man was injured early Tuesday morning inside a townhouse within a gated community in the 8500 block of 164 Street in Surrey.

"Initial reports said the incident at the Monta Rosa complex appeared to be an attempted murder-suicide.

"The man was rushed to hospital with what were described as non-life-threatening injuries.

"He is facing a charge of murder, police said.

"A neighbour called police just after 3 a.m. Tuesday to report strange sounds coming from the unit next door.

"Officers arrived to find the wounded man, then discovered the murdered woman. Both had suffered what appeared to stab wounds.

"It is being treated as a domestic violence case."


Source: bclocalnews.com...

Sunday, November 22, 2009

"It's Just Like A Story"


"BRISTOL, VA – There was already one body in the front yard when Washington County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at a little home on the outskirts of Bristol, Va., early Saturday.

"Then they heard a single gunshot from inside the tidy double-wide trailer.

"Twelve minutes earlier, a woman had called police, crying that her husband was trying to kill her at their home on Miller Hill Road, off Gate City Highway just outside the city line. Deputies arrived at 2:23 a.m. to find Rebecca Ellen Clayman, 46, lying in the yard with gunshot wounds to her face and chest.

"After they heard the shot, they found her husband, Paul Dean Clayman, 47, in the bathroom with a single gunshot wound to the head and a .38-caliber Special handgun nearby.

"Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

"`A domestic situation appears to be the motivating factor in the incident,` Sheriff Fred Newman said in a news statement. `Also, based on the initial emergency call that came into our dispatch center, alcohol may have been a contributing factor in this tragic incident.`

"Dozens of family members gathered at Becky Clayman’s father’s house, just next door to the home where the couple lived and died. Paul and Becky Clayman, John S. Battle High School sweethearts, had two sons, 18 and 21 years old. The 18-year-old just started his freshman year at University of Virginia College at Wise. The older brother lived at home with his parents while looking for work.

"Relatives said they are all still in shock.

"`It’s just like a story right now, something you hear about,` Becky Clayman’s niece, Carla Lilly, said while sitting on her granddaddy’s front porch. `The worst is yet to come – when they bring the bodies back, when it all sinks in. And next week’s Thanksgiving.`"


From TriCities.com...

Saturday, November 21, 2009

One Of Those Horribly Tragic Things


"WEST JORDAN, UT - A man and his girlfriend are dead after an early morning stand-off ended in an apparent murder-suicide Saturday in West Jordan.

"Police were first alerted to a problem in a home near 6800 S. Triumph Lane (1000 West) at about 3 a.m., said West Jordan Police Sgt. Drew Sanders. A man called for emergency help, saying a friend had just called claiming he had killed his girlfriend.

"Police believe a firearm was used in the homicide and that alcohol was involved.

"Police located the home from which the friend called, then entered the gated community where it was located and immediately contacted the suspect, Sanders said. The police SWAT team negotiated with the suspect for almost four hours, but just after 7 a.m., the suspect turned his gun on himself.

"`This is just one of these horribly tragic things,` Sanders said.

"The home has a history of domestic violence, he said."


From Deseret News...

Florida Keys Trailer Tragedy


"CONCH KEY, FL - A Conch Key couple is dead and detectives say it appears the man shot his girlfriend in the head Friday night, then killed himself with the same gun.

"Monroe County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Becky Herrin says Sgt. Jake Brady responded to Unit 16 at the Coral Village mobile-home park at 10:15 p.m. after friends of the couple found the two dead.

"According to Detective Terry Smith, 55-year-old Christine Petros had asked her live-in boyfriend and business partner, Robert Babic, 62, to move out of their trailer.

"It appears she was helping him remove his clothes from the bedroom closet when he walked up behind her and shot her in the back of the head with a .357 caliber revolver. He then shot himself in the head with the same gun, Herrin said.

"She said a friend and neighbor of Petros had spoken with her earlier in the evening; the friend called her back several times, getting no answer, and walked down to the trailer to check on her well-being. She found the door open, went inside and found Petros and Babic dead.

"Several neighbors report hearing gun shots between 5:30 and 5:45 p.m.

"Herrin said the couple had lived together at that location for several years. They owned a Key Largo sign business together called Sign Guyz."


Source: keysnet.com...

Friday, November 20, 2009

5 Dead, 6 Injured In Saipan Murder/Suicide


"Saipan Island - A gunman went on a rampage on the Pacific resort island of Saipan yesterday, first at a shooting range and then at a World War II site, killing four people and wounding six others before shooting himself.

"The violence claimed the lives of two men, a four-year-old boy and a two-year-old girl, all residents of the United States commonwealth, a spokesman said. Five South Korean tourists and a four-year-old local girl were wounded.

"Police said the attacker first took aim inside the shooting range in the community of Kannat Tabla, killing two men in their early 20s and the two children. A four-year-old girl was critically injured with a gunshot wound to the chest.

"About 11:30am, shortly after the first attack, the suspect began firing a rifle from a white van at a group of South Koreans visiting a World War II site in nearby Marpi. Police said they do not believe the shooter was specifically targeting tourists in what was termed a `random drive-by shooting.`

"Authorities said the suspected shooter was a contract worker in his 30s or 40s from Asia, but did not provide his name or home country. However, several residents said the man was known as `Mr Lee.`

"The Pacific News Center identified the gunman as Lee Zhong Ren, an employee at the shooting range. The news station also reported that Lee left behind a suicide note that spoke of a business deal gone bad.

"Saipan is the main island of the US Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, which has about 60,000 residents and is about 6,100 kilometers southwest of Hawaii. Saipan is a popular tourist destination for South Koreans, with more than 111,000 visiting the island in 2008, according to the Marianas Visitors Authority."


From ShanghaiDaily.com...

Thursday, November 19, 2009

1 Dead, 1 Injured In Attempted Murder/Suicide


"St. Lucie County, FL - One person is dead and another was in surgery after an attempted murder-suicide involving a husband and wife, St. Lucie County sheriff's deputies said.

"Authorities suspect William Beck, 54, used a .32-caliber gun to shoot his wife, Jacqueline Beck, 54, twice -- once in the face and once in the chest -- before killing himself inside his home in the 8400 block of Fort Walton Boulevard shortly after 5 p.m. Wednesday.

"The couple were married but not living together.

"According to detectives, Jacqueline Beck came to William Beck's home at his request. She told detectives she intended to tell her husband she wanted a divorce.

"Following a physical altercation, William Beck shot his wife and then shot himself in the head, deputies said.

"Jacqueline Beck went outside and screamed for help, deputies said.

"A St. Lucie County sheriff's detective who lives nearby heard the screams, ran to the house and found Jacqueline Beck lying on the front porch of the home.

"The detective radioed for help, went inside and found William Beck laying on the living room floor. St. Lucie County Fire-Rescue workers pronounced him dead at the scene.

"Detectives found the gun underneath William Beck's body.

"Fire-rescue workers took Jacqueline Beck to the emergency room of Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute, in Fort Pierce, where she was being treated Wednesday night."


From SunSentinel.com...

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

"The Call Ended Abruptly"


"PORTLAND, OR - A southwest Oregon man shot his wife in the back after hiding in her car while she met with a divorce attorney, authorities said Wednesday.

"Travis Kendall, 26, of Myrtle Point, later killed himself after a confrontation with Coquille Police Chief Mark Dannels, said Coos County District Attorney R. Paul Frasier.

"The woman, 22-year-old Ashley Kendall, was transferred from a southwest Oregon hospital to Portland’s Legacy Emanuel Hospital. Frasier described Kendall’s condition as “extremely” critical, saying the bullet entered her upper back and exited her chest. Hospital spokeswoman Amber Shoebridge declined comment.

"Ashley Kendall’s shooting was reported by her sister, who told police she was on the phone with her when she heard screams that `he` was in the car. The call ended abruptly.

"Investigators believe Travis Kendall drove to the attorney’s office in Coos Bay and hid in his wife’s car while she was in the office, only presenting himself when she started to drive. The wounded woman’s body was found on a street.

"The shooting ignited an immediate search for Kendall and the missing vehicle. Dannels spotted the car late Tuesday and gave chase until it reached Kendall’s home. Dannels fired shots during the ensuing confrontation, with one them hitting Kendall in the leg. Kendall, according to Frasier, then ducked around the corner of the house and shot himself in the head. An autopsy will be performed.

"Records show Travis Kendall was jailed on a domestic abuse charge in October. He was ordered not to have contact with Ashley following his conditional release."


From The Olympian...

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Nobody Heard Gunshots


"OLD ORCHARD BEACH, ME - Maine state police say they are investigating the deaths of a husband and wife found shot to death in their home in the seaside town of Old Orchard Beach as a murder-suicide.

"Sgt. Chris Harriman said a family friend found 55-year-old Bruce Savoy and 50-year-old Stacey Savoy inside their Pleasant Street home shortly after 9 a.m. Tuesday. Nobody heard gunshots, but police think the shootings took place Monday around 6 p.m.

"Harriman said Bruce Savoy worked as a code enforcement officer in Wells and as a volunteer firefighter in Old Orchard Beach, and that Stacey Savoy worked at Unum Corp.

"Police said a gun has been recovered. The bodies were taken to the state medical examiner's office for examination."


From WGME.com...

Relative Finds Pair Dead


"SARALAND, AL - Saraland Police Tuesday identified the victims of a murder-suicide.

"Police Chief Kevin Anderson said police were called by a relative to went to check on the couple shortly before 7 o'clock.

"When officers arrived they found the bodies of 65-year-old Shelby Lathan and 68-year-old Robert Lathan inside their home on Pake Road.

"Chief Anderson said Mrs. Lathan had been shot by her husband, who then shot himself.

"A neighbor [said] the couple was going through a divorce.

"Anderson said police were continuing to investigate, and did not release a motive for the shooting."


From FOX10tv.com...

Monday, November 16, 2009

"Picture Perfect" Family Of Four Found Dead


"Columbus Township, MI - Neighbors say Phillip and Gina Parsons and their two teenage sons were like the picture-perfect family. They played baseball in the front yard, would lend a hand for yard work and shared polite conversation and home-cooked meals with neighbors.

"`I thought they were a family you could put on a Christmas card and mail it,` said Russ Whittaker, who lives across the street from the family's Short Road home. `They didn't drink, didn't party, and you could always visit with them.`

"But authorities allege sometime between the overnight hours of Saturday and Sunday, Phillip Parsons snapped -- shooting his wife, son and stepson to death in their beds before turning the gun on himself.

"St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon this afternoon said just after 8 p.m. Sunday, a concerned relative went to check on the family, looked inside and noticed what he thought was a man lying on the bedroom floor and called 911.

"Soon after, police arrived and found 35-year-old Phillip Parsons dead on the floor of the master bedroom with a single gunshot wound to the head. His wife, Gina Parsons, 34, was found in the couple's bed with numerous gun shot wounds. The teens, Sean Parsons, 14, and Andrew Davis, 14, who are stepbrothers and children from the Parsons' previous marriages, were each found dead in their beds of a single gunshot wound.

"Donnellon said the medical examiner has ruled it a murder-homicide. Police said Parsons shot the family with his own large-caliber handgun."


Source: The Detroit News...

High School Murder/Suicide Prevented


"SOUTH COVENTRY, PA — A sophomore who had been in the district for only three weeks was led away from Owen J. Roberts High School in handcuffs Friday after allegedly threatening to kill a 16-year-old girl, five random people then himself.

"State police at the Embreeville barracks said the 16-year-old student was charged with terroristic threats and harassment. His name was withheld by police and school officials because of his age.

"The release from police said the incident occurred at 9:46 a.m. Friday but contained no other information. A call to the barracks Sunday resulted in no new information being provided.

"Acting Owen J. Roberts Superintendent Ray Feick said information he received indicates the alleged threat was made Monday, Nov. 9, but the students who witnessed it did not inform anyone about it until Thursday, Nov. 12.

"`This student has only been in the district for three weeks. And, from what I understand, he threatened the kids in gym class, but no one told anyone until Thursday,` Feick said Sunday afternoon. `I don't know why they waited so long.`

"Feick said Sean Earley, one of the high school's two assistant principals, acted immediately on the information and in accordance with the district's crisis assessment policy. Earley met with the student Friday morning and the student admitted he made the threats, Feick said.

"The student `said he was going to kill himself and take some of his friends out with him,` said Feick.

"Feick said the student has medical and psychological problems that may have contributed to the incident. And despite the four-day delay, `nothing happened between Monday and Friday,` he said."


Source: Daily Local News...

"They Lived Alone"


"Milford Township, MI - Police say a couple found dead in their home on Sunday evening died of gunshot wounds in an apparent murder-suicide.

"Police confirmed the identities as Joseph Peter Valentino II and his wife, Lucille Champoux Valentino. The couple were aged 62 and 60, respectively.

"Milford Police said that officers were called to the 1800 block of Bristol Court at about 6 p.m. on Sunday. The two were discovered by a relative, according to the Milford Police Department.

"Police arrived to find the couple in the home. They lived alone, police said.

"A preliminary examination by the Oakland County Medical Examiners Office concluded that both died of gunshot wounds. The wife's death was ruled a homicide; the husband's a suicide.

"Authorities say the couple did not have any prior run-ins with the police. At this time, investigators could not confirm how long the couple had been dead. The investigation is ongoing."


From The Detroit News...

Cancer Treatment May Have Pushed Man Over The Edge


"WELLBORN, AL — Calhoun County officials are investigating an apparent murder-suicide in which they say a 50-year-old Wellborn man shot his wife to death before turning the gun on himself.

"The Anniston Star reports that those killed in the shootings early Sunday are identified as Thomas Dee Hart, a construction worker, and his wife of nearly 23 years, 41-year-old Wendy Ramsey Hart.

"Thomas Hart's sister, Debbie Brimer, says she believes her brother's judgment was affected by cancer and the medication and radiation treatments he'd been undergoing.

"Police say the shots were fired sometime between midnight and about 8:30 a.m. Sunday, when one of the couple's six children found the bodies sprawled on the kitchen floor."


From WHNT.com...

Internet Love Affair Leads To Attempted Murder/Suicide


"ORLANDO, FL - Orlando police are investigating a bizarre attempted murder-suicide case in West Orlando.

"They say the suspect is a woman the victim met on the Internet.

"Police said the woman thought she and the [man had] dated, but the man said he didn't recognize her until after they showed him a picture of his attacker.

"Police said the man returned home from grocery shopping to his Elm Court apartment in Middlebrook Pines about 10:30 Sunday night.

"According to the police report, the man heard noise outside on his patio and when he came outside to investigate he was confronted by a woman with a handgun, shouting at him that he wasn't returning her calls.

"They said the woman then started shooting, hitting him in the groin and leg area three times.

"She reloaded the weapon and started shooting again, then shot and killed herself.

"The man was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, but is recovering and doing well enough to talk to investigators about this bizarre story.

"Police said the strange part is, once they pulled the woman's identification, they found she lives in Georgia.

"They said it looks like she drove for hours to meet the man she fell in love with online, and that he says he barely remembers."


Source: cfnews13.com...

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Elderly New England Couple Found Dead


"DERRY, NH - Authorities are investigating an apparent murder-suicide in Derry reported early Sunday morning after police discovered a couple in their 70s dead.

"A statement released by the attorney general's office Sunday evening indicated that Derry police officers found the bodies of Claude Roberts, 76, and Judith Roberts, 73, in their Derry home on Shilah Drive shortly before 5:30 a.m.

"The statement indicated Claude Roberts died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, and Judith Roberts suffered a gunshot wound to her head. She was taken to a Massachusetts hospital, where she was pronounced dead by the afternoon.

"Autopsies were scheduled as the investigation continues."


From WMUR.com...

Suicide Delayed


"KNOXVILLE, TN - Police said a person suspected in the death of a woman found last week at a Bellevue motel took his own life Saturday night in Knoxville.

"Local police and U.S. marshals were trying to serve William Troope with a warrant at a motel when he leapt off a third-floor balcony.

"Troope was wanted for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Wendy McKinney, whose body was found inside a Bellevue motel Wednesday.

"According to Metro police, she had been beaten and strangled.

"Troope and McKinney had a history of domestic violence."


From WSMV.com...

"Woman Found Dead At Bellevue Hotel" (WSMV.com, 11/12/09)

Saturday, November 14, 2009

"Love Triangle" Ends Abruptly


"HENDERSONVILLE, NC — A Lake Lure man who police say shot and killed another man inside a car at Applebee’s on Four Seasons Boulevard died this morning.

"Joseph Gaydish, 31, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at Mission Hospital in Asheville, said Capt. David Adams of the Hendersonville Police Department.

"Adams said the murder-suicide might have been precipitated by a love triangle.

"Police responding to a shooting call about 11 p.m. Friday found Russell Cody Flood, 26, of Pisgah Forest, dead with a gunshot wound to the head in the front passenger seat of a gold Saturn driven by Courtney Bak, 29, of Pisgah Forest, Adams said.

"He said Gaydish and Bak had broken up several months ago, but were still friendly and the three were driving around together when Gaydish shot Flood, who was currently dating Bak, from the back seat. Gaydish then shot himself.

"Adams said the shooting of Flood likely was premeditated.

"`The girl had dated both of them,` he said. `Gaydish wanted them to meet him at Applebee’s. They drove around for a while and went back to Applebee’s. Before the vehicle stopped he shot the other kid and himself.

"`According to her there was no argument or anything. Obviously, he brought a gun with him. In all likelihood, he had planned it.`"


From CITIZEN-TIMES.com...

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Three Dead In Oregon Murder/Suicide


"PORTLAND, OR - Three bodies were discovered Wednesday afternoon in a suspected murder-suicide, deputies said.

"Washington County Sheriff's Office detectives are at the scene near Oak Creek Drive and Laidlaw Road in northwest Portland.

"Detectives haven't released the cause of death.

"There is no threat to the community, deputies said.

"Neighbors said a couple and a son live in the house.

"`I'm shocked. We know the son. He goes to my daughter's school. … I'm real shocked,` said Ravi Saripalli.

"No other details have been released."


Source: KPTV.com...

Murderer Found Dead


"VERMILION TOWNSHIP, OH — The man wanted for the murder of his former girlfriend was found dead at a Vermilion Township resort this afternoon.

"The body of David L. `Jody` Kromer, of Margaretta Township, was found by Erie County sheriff’s deputies. Kromer was wanted for the kidnapping and murder of Carla Westhofen, 58, of Huron Township.

"It appeared Kromer died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was found at the Firefly Beach Resort, 4913 Cleveland Road East, according to the sheriff’s office.It appeared Kromer checked into the cabins on Sunday night and died sometime before today.

"A resort employee called deputies about 12:40 p.m. to report a strong smell of natural gas. When deputies arrived, they spotted the black Ford Taurus that Kromer was believed to be driving.

"Deputies approached the cottage and broke out several windows to ventilate the gas. Kromer was found dead inside. It appeared Kromer had left the gas running in a stove at the cottage.

"`I’m pretty satisfied with that ending to it,` said Westhofen’s son, Todd Dahnke, 40, of rural Sandusky County. `We had fears he would come back to the area and he did.

"`Instead of causing more harm to other people, I’m glad he did it to himself,` Dahnke said. `It sounds morbid to say, but this is probably the best news we’ve had in a week.`"


From The Lorain Journal...

Welfare Check Finds Elderly Couple Dead


"OSWEGO, NY - Oswego Police now say an elderly couple whose bodies were found in their East 7th Street home is a case of murder-suicide.

"Investigators now report that 86-year-old Josephine Hyse was killed from a gunshot wound to the neck. The autopsy reveled she also had taken a large number of prescription narcotics. Investigators say the fatal shot was fired by her husband, 89-year-old Richard Hyse.

"Police are still awaiting the results of a toxicology test, but believe Richard Hyse died by taking an overdose of a prescription narcotics.

"Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the couple's death. They had been contacted on Monday to check on the welfare of the couple at their home. When police responded, they discovered the Hyses' bodies in their bed.

"Police said they don't believe anyone else was involved in the deaths.

"Richard Hyse founded the business program at the State University of New York at Oswego. Both became prominent in Oswego community affairs and the arts."


From CNYcentral.com...

2 Dead, 2 Injured In Workplace Murder/Suicide


"Tualatin, OR - A 39-year-old Gladstone man shot and killed his estranged wife Tuesday morning at the Tualatin drug-test lab where she worked in what police are calling an act of domestic violence.

"Tualatin police said Robert James Beiser killed 36-year-old Teresa Marie Beiser, also of Gladstone, in an attack shortly before noon at the Legacy MetroLab on Southwest Mohawk Street in Tualatin. Robert Beiser then turned his weapon on himself, and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"Two other MetroLab employees also were wounded in the attack. A 63-year-old man was taken by Life Flight helicopter to Oregon Health and Science University Hospital, where he had surgery for multiple gunshot wounds. A 20-year-old woman was injured by flying glass and was treated at Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Medical Center for her non-life-threatening injuries.

"Witnesses said that just before noon a man later identified as Robert Beiser, armed with a rifle, walked up to the Legacy MetroLab, 7587 S.W. Mohawk St., and opened fire on people in the building.

"Beiser began shooting before he entered the building, blowing out one of the lab's front windows. People in businesses several hundred yards away from the lab said they heard the rifle shots.

"Police responded to the building within two minutes. Inside they found Teresa Beiser dead from a gunshot wound. Robert Beiser also died in the building.

"Tualatin Police Chief Kent Barker told reporters that investigators were still trying to piece together details of the attack and did not have a motive for the shooting."


Source: TheTimes...

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Kids Watch As Mother Murdered At Bus Stop


"LAPORTE COUNTY, IN ― Two people who died in an apparent murder-suicide Tuesday morning have been identified.

"Police say 40-year-old David Streeting shot Tonya Early, his long-term girlfriend, in the chest while she was waiting for a school bus with their children just before 8 a.m.

"Early died there at the intersection of 425 West and 1000 North, just east of Michigan City. Streeting fled approximately half a mile away and shot himself in the chest before police could reach his vehicle.

"The school bus ― with children from Springfield Elementary onboard ― pulled up just as Early was shot, say police. The bus driver was one of the first to call 911.

"School officials have notified parents of the children on the bus. They are currently using crisis counselors to speak with the kids individually and in groups.

"The two children of the couple ― one is 8-years-old and the other 10 ― witnessed their mother’s murder. They are now safe with their grandparents."


Source: South Bend Tribune...

Mother And Daughter Found Dead


"MOUNTAIN HOME, AR - The Baxter County Sheriff's office is investigating an apparent Murder/Suicide at a residence at 37 Sharon Drive, in Rural Mountain Home.

"The victims, 46-year old Nancy Vanette Frank and 79-year old Louise V. Gipson, were related, mother and daughter.

"At approximately 3:58 PM, Deputies from the Baxter County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to Sharon Drive. Upon arrival, deputies found the bodies of two women who were deceased. The bodies were discovered by a family member who had gone to the residence to check on Ms. Gipson.

"Sheriff's Investigators were called to investigate the scene. Two letters, believed to be written by Ms. Frank, were discovered. One was discovered at the home of Ms. Frank and the second letter was discovered at the scene, the home of Louise Gipson.

"One of the letters written by Ms. Frank, indicated that her mother was in poor health and did not want to become a burden to her family or her children.

"A preliminary investigation leads investigators to believe that Nancy Vanette Frank first shot and killed Ms. Gipson and then shot herself. A Ruger 357 revolver was discovered at the scene with two spent shell casings."


From KSPR.com...

Cops Listen As Shots Fired


"COTTONWOOD, CA - A Cottonwood couple is dead after a domestic disturbance Sunday evening in the 17000 block of Billy Jack Lane.

"According to TCSD logs, Pamela Ann Vannoy, 51, called the Tehama County Sheriff's Department at 7:55 p.m. to report her husband, John Calvin Vannoy, 53, was at their residence trying to harm her.

"While Pamela Vannoy was on the phone with the department, John Vannoy took the phone away from her and shots were fired.

"`We had the male half on the phone saying he shot his wife and then more shots were fired`, said Sheriff Clay Parker.

"The SWAT team was called out to the incident at 8:32 p.m. to ensure that the residence could be entered safely, Parker said.

"`We do not believe anyone else other than the two parties are involved`, Parker said.

"An investigation is ongoing and no further information was available."


Source: Contra Costa Times...

Monday, November 9, 2009

Two Injured In Attempted Murder/Suicide


"KENT, WA - The manager of a Kent business shot an employee and then turned the gun on himself Monday afternoon, police [said].

"The manager of Kent Body and Paint got into a dispute with the company's bookkeeper, police said, and shot the bookkeeper in the stomach and wrist.

"The manager then went out in front of other employees and shot himself in the mouth, police said.

"Both the manager and the bookkeeper have been taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

"Police said the manager suffered life-threatening injuries. Police described injuries to the bookkeeper as `serious.`

"Police are investigating at the scene.

"Kent Body and Paint, in the 800 block of Fifth Avenue South, is a firm that paints semitrailers."


From kirotv.com...

Police Find Two Dead In Virginia


"FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA - A man and a woman were found dead in their Fairfax County home Monday afternoon, and police are investigating the case as a possible murder-suicide.

"Fairfax police said they were called to a townhouse in the 8400 block of Springfield Oaks Drive about 1 p.m. for a report of a `shot person,` Officer Tawny Wright said. The neighborhood is in south Springfield, just north of Interstate 95 near Rolling Road.

"Responding officers found two people dead, Wright said: a 66-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman. Their names were not immediately released pending notification of family members.

"Both the man and the woman appeared to have suffered gunshot wounds to the upper body, Wright said, and a handgun was found nearby. Police had no details on who might have fired the weapon.

"Wright said the early investigation indicated that the shootings were `domestically related.`

"No official cause of death will be released until an autopsy is performed Tuesday morning, officials said."


From The Washington Post...

Woman Escapes Van Of Death


"PHILADELPHIA, PA ― Philadelphia police are investigating an apparent murder-suicide in the Oxford Circle section of the city.

"Authorities say a father allegedly shot and killed his 17-year-old wheelchair-bound, autistic son before turning the gun on himself.

"The bodies of 61-year-old Segundo Duque and his son Fabian were found at about 6 a.m. Monday in a van on Sanger Street near Loretto Avenue.

"Philadelphia police say the Segundo Duque allegedly shot his son while the car was driving in the 4500 block of H Street. Police say a 22-year-old woman was in the car at the time of the shooting and was able to escape uninjured.

"Police say Segundo continued to drive the van to Sanger Street, where he shot and killed himself.

"Police are investigating why Segundo allegedly committed this murder-suicide."


Source: CBS3.com...

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Four Dead After "Deadly Rampage"


"SAN JACINTO COUNTY, TX – Police are investigating after they said a man went on a deadly rampage and killed three people, then himself in San Jacinto County on Saturday.

"Around 9:30 p.m., the San Jacinto County Sherriff’s Office received a call to check on a residence located on FM 1725.

"They arrived to find four people, including one small child, dead. It appears the suspect killed his girlfriend, her 6-year-old daughter and a grandmother before committing suicide.

"Investigators are not releasing the names of the victims or the suspect at this time."


From KHOU.com...

Saturday, November 7, 2009

NY Couple Found Dead


"JAMAICA, NY - Police were investigating Saturday the apparent murder-suicide of a couple in Jamaica, Queens, according to sources.

"Authorities received a 911 call about a stabbing and found the bodies of Paul Johnson, 47, and Regina Alston, 46, in a house at 109-65 Liverpool Street shortly after 1 p.m.

"Alston had multiple stab wounds, while sources say Johnson hung himself and had cuts on his body.

"Sources also say Johnson may have snuck into the house, which was Alston's residence.

"The couple had at least one daughter and one son, and the daughter was apparently home during the incident, according to sources.

"Alston's landlady, Helen Law, [said] that Johnson moved out of the house around two months ago and that he had been previously arrested for a domestic dispute.

"Sources also [said] that Alston had a previous restraining order against Johnson.

"As of late Saturday, police were still investigating the incident and the medical examiner was still determining the causes of death."


From NY1.com...

Neighbors Shocked


"ORANGE COUNTY, FL - A man and woman were found dead inside an Orange County home on Fish Court in the Candlewick subdivision. Investigators are calling the incident a murder-suicide.

"Neighbors [said] the husband shot his wife and then turned the gun on himself. Family members live next door and some of them were home when the shooting happened.

"Orlando police have confirmed that the bodies found were of 42-year-old Ignacio Hernandez and his wife 41-year-old Elba Ortiz.

"Neighbors said Hernandez had lost his job a while back and Ortiz just lost her job as well. They believe he couldn't see a way out of tough times that the family faced. Ortiz had four children, three who were living at home. Hernandez had three children of his own, but they didn't live with the couple.

"Neighbors said they were shocked.

"`I never saw this coming at all, never…didn't expect it. He was a very nice guy,` neighbor Yvonne Femiano said.

"Relatives said Hernandez started a new job, but possibly got laid off Friday before the shooting."


From WFTV.com...

Deadly Dispute


"LOS ANGELES, CA - A 20-year-old man shot and killed his teenage girlfriend Friday night during a domestic dispute in Lincoln Heights before turning the gun on himself, police said

"The shooting was reported about 8:30 p.m. at an apartment complex in the 2400 block of Daly Street. Police officers of LAPD's Hollenbeck Division found a teenage girl dead from a gunshot wound to the back of the head, said LAPD Officer Gregory Baek. She was identified by the LAPD as Maria Valderrama, 16.

"A short time later, as police searched for the gunman, the 20-year-old man, identified by police as Juan Carlos Mendez, was found in a nearby alley with a gunshot wound to the chest area, Baek said.

"`At some point, either at the scene or in the ambulance, he admitted to shooting the girl,` Baek said.

"Paramedics took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police said Mendez and Valderrama had been dating for two years and were involved in a dispute at the apartment when Mendez allegedly shot her. He then fled and shot himself nearby, Baek said."


Source: L.A. Times...

Friday, November 6, 2009

Home Hospice Turns Deadly


"SPOKANE VALLEY, WA - Spokane Valley Police are investigating what they believe to be a possible murder, suicide in the 10300 block of E. 48th.

"The 70-year-man and his 78-year-old wife were discovered when their daughter went to the Ponderosa neighborhood home at about 3:30 p.m. Friday and found her parents shot to death inside. She told deputies her mother had terminal dementia and had recently been released from a hospital and into Hospice care at their home.

"She said her mother had become increasingly difficult to care for as her health declined, and that she dropped by the home frequently to allow her father some free time from caring for her.

"Authorities say the man's wife was discovered dead in a bedroom. Detectives said it appeared both the husband and wife had suffered gunshot wounds, and they recovered a pistol from near the deceased husband. No suicide note was found.

"They also said that the couple's financial papers had all been laid out. The couple's daughter said she called him Thursday night to advise him she would drop by Friday afternoon, and said nothing sounded out of the ordinary during the phone call."


From KHQ.com...

Killer Calls Ambulance


"OAK GROVE, KY - A man and woman are dead in Oak Grove, Ky., in a homicide/suicide, according to police officials.

"Oak Grove Police are at the scene. The incident happened at about 2 p.m. at 117 Gail St.

"The two are husband and wife, and the wife is a Fort Campbell soldier, police [said]...

"The husband shot his wife, then called for an ambulance, police said, and at some point, he shot himself.

"The couple's two boys, ages 4 and 6, were in the home and apparently witnessed the incident...

"The couple have not been identified pending notification of next of kin. The couple has a history of domestic violence."


From TheLeafChronicle...

Separated Couple United In Death


"KILLEEN, TX — Killeen police are investigating what they said appears to be a murder-suicide involving two Fort Hood soldiers who returned late last year from Iraq.

"Fort Hood officials Tuesday identified the married couple as Staff Sgt. Gilberto Mota, 35, of California and Spc. Diana Mota, 30, of Killeen. Police said they were found dead Saturday at a house in the 3100 block of Southhill Drive.

"Investigators said they think Gilberto Mota shot Diana Mota before turning the gun on himself. The couple had been separated, officials said. According to a written statement from police in Killeen, Diana Mota went to the house Saturday to talk to Gilberto Mota. The couple's daughter and her uncle, Gilberto Mota's brother, went to the house about 11 p.m. after Diana Mota failed to return.

"When they arrived, they found the couple dead in a bedroom, police said. Bell County Justice of the Peace Garland Potvin has ordered autopsies for the couple at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas."


Source: statesman.com...

Deadly Domestic Dispute


"MIAMI, FL - A domestic dispute turned deadly last night in Northwest Miami-Dade after a a man and woman dies of gunshot wounds, police said.

"Police, responding to a call of shots fired at the Villa Rustica neighborhood on the 19000 block of NW 57th Ave. around 10:30 last night, arrived to find a man dead and a woman clinging to life, both with several gunshot wounds.

"The woman was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

"The identities of the couple are unknown, as is the nature of their relationship.

"Miami-Dade police are still investigating the incident."


From nbcmiami.com...

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Two Dead After Domestic Dispute


"EAST ORANGE, NJ - Police are investigating an apparent murder-suicide, after a man and woman were found with gunshot wounds inside a single family home this afternoon, authorities said.

"Police Sgt. Andrew Di Elmo said preliminary reports suggest the violence began as a domestic dispute, and that the man probably shot the woman, then turned the gun on himself. The two were boyfriend and girlfriend, authorities said.

"The shooting happened in the living room of the home on the 600 block of Springdale Avenue. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, and the woman died as she was being taken to the hospital, said Paul Loriquet, a spokesman for Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow.

"East Orange police and the prosecutor's office homicide squad are handling the investigation."


Source: nj.com...

Two Dead In Georgia


"ATHENS, GA - The man who Athens police said shot and killed a woman and sparked an alert at the University of Georgia was found dead Thursday afternoon.

"Athens-Clarke County police said the man, who was identified as Michael Wise, 25, of Athens, shot and killed a woman at a shopping center off South Milledge Avenue. The woman was identified as Kendra Borders, 20, of Athens.

"Police said Wise was found dead in Oglethorpe County. Investigators said it appeared Wise killed himself.

"Police searched for Wise near the University of Georgia golf course, which was evacuated. The university alerted students as a precaution."


From cbsatlanta.com...

Killer Left Multiple Suicide Notes


"PATASKALA, OH — Authorities remain on the scene of a murder-suicide with three victims, including a 9-year-old boy.

"The victims include a 45-year-old, a 46-year-old and a 9-year-old child. Police have not identified the victims.

"Pataskala police did a well-check run and found three bodies at 8:30 a.m. at a home on the 1300 block of Havens Corner Road.

"The crime apparently happened between 3 and 7 a.m. Thursday, according to authorities.

"Police said a man left letters and e-mails for family, friends and co-workers. Police were not disclosing the content of the letters.

"Police said the deceased owned a business in the area.

"There wasn’t a history of domestic calls to the home, but there was a barn fire at the residence about six months ago.

"The boy attended Licking Heights Local School District.

"Apparently, the family includes older children who don’t live at the Havens Corner home.

"No more immediate information was available..."


From nbc4i.com...

"Falling Out" Preceded Murder/Suicide


"PORTLAND, OR - Police are on the scene of what appears to be a murder-suicide.

"A source close to the family said a mother, father and their 4-year-old son were found dead in a home at Southeast 123rd and Salmon. The person said it appeared the father shot the woman and child and then turned the gun on himself An 11-year-old daughter was not harmed. It is unclear if she was present.

"The source identified the victims, but we are waiting for confirmation from police on their identities before releasing their names.

"According to the source, the mother and father were not married but used to live together. However, they had a falling out and she moved out just before Halloween. But he reportedly returned earlier this week and the family was not heard from after that. A missing persons report was filed, according to the source, and the bodies were later discovered inside the home."


From KATU.com...

"Nice People" Found Dead


"LEVITTOWN, PA - Two bodies were found in a Bristol Township home Tuesday night, but police released no details.

"A family member found the bodies of a man and woman inside a home on the 100 block of Holly Drive. The Bucks County Coroner's Office removed the couple's bodies and planned to conduct autopsies.

"A neighbor said they were both nice people who were in the process of divorcing. County records show the home is owned by Ethelyn Marie Vender, who filed for divorce from Russell Vender on Oct. 13.

"The neighbor said the couple's children are adults.

"Police guarded the front door of the residence late Tuesday night as detectives collected evidence from inside. Halloween decorations remained in the darkened windows and few lights were on inside the home when police first arrived.

"One neighbor declined to comment but exclaimed on seeing the second body being taken out of the house, `They're both dead, I thought Russ just shot himself.`"


From phillyBurbs.com...

Few Details In Ohio Murder/Suicide


"LIMA, OH - Lima police have identified two persons found dead in a Prospect Avenue home Monday, and have labeled their deaths as homicide-suicide.

"They were 61 year old Michael Bassitt and his 56-year-old wife, Julie. One of the Bassett's is the 5th homicide victim of the year in the Allen County city.

"Police would not disclose which one of the deceased was the murder victim or which spouse did the shooting.

"An autopsy is scheduled Thursday in Toledo."


From WFIN.com...

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Pair Found Dead At Home


"WEST HILLS, CA - A 66-year-old woman and her 62-year-old husband were discovered dead in their home in a murder suicide, police said Tuesday.

"Donna Edwards was found shot to death at 10 a.m. Monday in the master bedroom of their home in the 7900 block of McLaren Avenue by colleagues who became concerned when she failed to show up for work, said Los Angeles Police Department officials.

"Craig Edwards was discovered dead on the kitchen floor. His cause for death is being determined by the Los Angeles County Coroner. Police said there were no obvious signs for his death.

"Authorities are still determining a motive for the slaying and have recovered several weapons from the home."


From the Contra Costa Times...

Man Slaughters Family While Wife Showers


"GREEN COVE SPRINGS, FL - A Clay County man undergoing a divorce shot and killed his two sleeping children while his wife was showering and then shot himself, authorities said.

"Jerry Whitelaw, 49, killed his son, Kevin, 16, and daughter, Katie, 11, as they slept in their home on Fleming Island, according to Sgt. Dan Mahla of the Sheriff's Office. Mahla said.

"Whitelaw's wife called the sheriff's office shortly after 6 a.m. She said she was in the shower and did not hear anything, Mahla [said].

"Court records show Dana Whitelaw, 47, filed for divorce in August. Sheriff Rick Beseler said he was told the couple separated in June.

"Jerry Whitelaw worked for a company called Idea Integration in downtown Jacksonville, but there was no answer at the company's telephone when called...

"Kevin Whitelaw was a junior at St. Johns County Day School and was on the school's football team, school officials said.

"The school's 350 students were told about the tragedy in an assembly Tuesday morning and four grief counselors were called in to help the students.

"Kate Whitelaw attended Grace Episcopal Day School in Orange Park and Dana Whitelaw also worked at the school."


Source: Miami Herald...

Look Through Any Window


"FAYETTEVILLE, NC — Four people were found shot to death at 314 West Park Drive in Fayetteville Monday night, police said.

"The victims were a man and woman and two teenagers – a girl and boy – police spokeswoman Theresa Chance said. Their names were not released.

"Property records show the house, which is valued at more than $500,000, is owned by William and Kathryn Maxwell.

"Authorities said they are not searching for a suspect.

"Family members went to the home Monday evening and found the four people dead, Chance said. They called 911 around 8:30 p.m.

"`The (in-laws) were able to look right through the front window and see there were deceased bodies,` Chance said.

"When officers arrived, they looked through the window and saw a woman's body, Chance said. They entered the house and found the man and the boy. They found the girl's body further inside the residence.

"Police stayed at the scene overnight and removed the bodies around 4:30 a.m."


From NC WANTED...

Monday, November 2, 2009

Check The Attic


"TRIANGLE, VA - Two Forest Park High School students are dead after an apparent murder-suicide in Triangle on Monday night.

"The father of a 17-year-old girl returned to his home in the 3900 block of Oakdale Circle about 5 p.m. and found his daughter and her 18-year-old boyfriend from Woodbridge dead on her bedroom floor. Both suffered fatal gunshot wounds, said Prince William police Maj. Raymond Colgan.

"The girl’s room was an attic converted into a bedroom.

"`The door to the room is an attic door that you have to pull down, and father saw that it was open, and the stairs into the attic room were down,` said Colgan.

"Police declined to give the victims’ names Monday. A news conference is planned for Tuesday where additional information is expected to be released.

"Investigators are in the process of notifying family members as well as the school, where classes are canceled Tuesday because of the statewide election, said Colgan.

"Colgan did not say who pulled the trigger. Police are still trying to determine a motive."


From InsideNoVA.com...

UPDATE: Deaths may have been suicide pact...

OOPS!


"BERGENFIELD, NJ — A New Jersey mother who mistakenly thought she was losing custody of her children allegedly stabbed her young son, then tried to kill herself.

"Elida Marroquin was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, child endangerment and weapons offenses following Saturday's incident at the family's home in Bergenfield. She was being held Sunday on $500,000 bail.

"Authorities say the 37-year-old married mother of three, who does not read English well, mistakenly feared her children would be removed after receiving several letters from their school in recent weeks.

"Marroquin, armed with a steak knife, allegedly stabbed her 8-year-old son in the stomach before cutting her own neck and abdomen.

"Both remained hospitalized Sunday but are expected to recover from their wounds."


From FOX News...

Police Decline To Speculate


"GREENVILLE, TN - Greene County sheriff's deputies are investigating the shooting deaths Sunday of a man and a woman at an Oasis Road residence as a possible murder-suicide.

"Greene County Sheriff Steve Burns this morning identified the victims as Johnny Heck, Jr., 50, of 2003 Oasis Road, and Elizabeth Powell, 44, of Gilbreath Road.

"Burns described Heck and Powell as acquaintances and noted that Powell was believed to have occasionally stayed at Heck's residence.

"`We are working it right now as a murder-suicide, but the case is still under investigation,` the sheriff said.

"Burns declined to speculate about a motive.

"Deputies responded about 5:30 p.m. Sunday to Heck's residence at 2003 Oasis Road in western Greene County after a member of Heck's family found the bodies inside the house.

"`They (Heck's family) hadn't had any contact (with Heck) all day and went to check,` Burns said.

"The sheriff said both Heck and Powell had suffered apparent gunshot wounds and that the house was `secure,` indicating that no one had forced their way into the residence before the shootings took place.

"`We recovered a shotgun at the scene,` the sheriff said.

"The bodies of Heck and Powell were being sent to the Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City for autopsies.

"Burns said officers remained on the scene until about 10:30 p.m. Sunday and that detectives were continuing their investigation today."


From GreenvilleSun.com...

Two Fires, Two Bodies


"BIRCHWOOD, WI - Authorities found two bodies at separate fire sites over the weekend in what the Sawyer County Sheriff’s Department is calling an apparent murder-suicide.

"Authorities found the first body Saturday evening at a fire scene on Sawyer County Highway F in Edgewater Township. Evidence discovered at the scene led Sheriff’s Department Investigators to believe that foul play was involved in the death of the 43-year-old man.

"After questioning relatives and acquaintances of the man, officers developed a suspect, and numerous agencies worked through the night in an attempt to locate him.

"Around 10 a.m. Sunday officers located a smoldering fire near an abandoned mobile home along Washburn County Highway A near Spooner. The body of a man was located in the ashes, and the suspect’s vehicle was found near the mobile home.

"The body was badly burned, but evidence led police to believe the body is that of the suspect in the Sawyer County homicide. An autopsy will be done to positively identify the body.

"Police are withholding the name of the homicide victim pending notification of relatives. The name of the suspect is being withheld pending positive identification.

"The Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation and the State Fire Marshal are assisting at both fire scenes."


Source: Duluth News Tribune...