Drinking, Dancing, And Death

"OCALA, FL - The two women who were found dead Saturday in their southwest Ocala home had spent the previous night together drinking and dancing at a local pub, according to a report made available on Monday.

"The report also said that the bodies of Donna Marie Groves and Wendy White Kucia were found lying side by side in bed. Kucia, 51, cradled a .38-caliber snub-nosed revolver while Groves, 43, had an aluminum takeout food container on her chest.

"The woman, described as lovers, died of single gunshot wounds in what appears to be a murder-suicide, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office report.

"It was 1:48 p.m. Saturday when Groves' stepfather, Jerry J. Deming, found the bodies at the Ocala home they shared, 7707 S.W. 81st St., in the Hibiscus Park subdivision off State Road 200.

"Marion sheriff's spokesman Judge Cochran said detectives are awaiting autopsy results before issuing the official cause of deaths.

"They are also awaiting results of ballistics tests to determine whether the gun found on Kucia's chest was in fact the weapon used in the shootings.

"Michelle Everard, 39, who spent Friday night with the couple at Our Place Saloon [MySpace], said her friends did not appear to be having any major relationship problems.

"Everard, who doesn't drink, was the designated driver that night. She drove Kucia's car and dropped the women home at about 1 a.m. Saturday, she said Monday.

"The couple reportedly told Everard to keep the car so that she could run errands Saturday morning. She was at Walmart when she received a call from detectives.

"`I guess I was the last person to see them alive,` said Everard, adding the couple had been dating for 12 years."

From Ocala.com...