Deadly Reconcilliation

"CLEMMONS, NC — Authorities are investigating both the shooting deaths of an couple whose bodies were found at a mobile home in Clemmons early Sunday afternoon and the apparent suicide of a Davie County man, court documents said.

"The couple had been estranged and the wife had been dating the man who killed himself, a search warrant on file at the Forsyth County Magistrate's Office said.

"A family member and authorities found Patricia and Otto Brandon dead from gunshots wounds in a home at 1646 Chardale Drive in the Chappell Mobile Home Park off Styers Ferry Road, according sheriff's officials and the warrant said. He was found in a chair in the living room while she was found lying on the floor.

"According to the search warrant, the Brandons had been separated for some time and were attempting to reconcile their marriage. Patricia Brandon had been dating Franklin Gray McBride, of 290 Hartly Road, Mocksville. The warrant said that he was not happy about the reconciliation.

"Myra Bruggman, the Brandon's daughter had been trying to contact her mother by phone since Friday, the warrant said.

"She received a call from McBride's daughter-in-law Saturday evening who said that McBride had committed suicide in Davie County, the warrant said.

"That led her to go to her parents' house the next day. She went inside, saw her mother's body and left to call authorities.

"Forsyth Sheriff's investigators were able to confirm with Davie County authorities that McBride died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 72 and died suddenly Friday, an obituary said.

"The Brandon's bodies have been taken to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, said Major Brad Stanley of the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office.

"Stanley could not say how long couple had been dead.

"`We will let the medical examiner make that determination,` Stanley said."

Source: Winston-Salem Journal...