Girls 7 And 9 Killed In Double Murder/Suicide

"JUNCTION CITY, OR — Two young girls and their father are dead in an apparent double murder-suicide that occurred Sunday or Monday at a rural home off River Road south of Junction City.

"The girls were 7 and 9 years old, said deputies who were still investigating the grisly scene at 29789 Harper Road late Monday evening.

"The deceased father is Richard Rauscher, a sheriff’s deputy confirmed at the scene. Rauscher owned a home-based carpentry business, according to state business registration records.

"Rauscher and his estranged wife, Jennifer, shared custody of their two daughters, police said. Richard Rauscher had weekend custody and was with the girls on Sunday, when they attended a birthday party.

"When Jennifer Rauscher went to her daughters’ school to pick them up Monday afternoon, she was informed that they had never shown up, sheriff’s Sgt. Spence Slater said at the scene. Jennifer Rauscher, who lives in Eugene, then called a Harper Road neighbor, who said Richard Rauscher’s car was in the driveway, Slater said.

"Jennifer Rauscher then asked a sheriff’s deputy to meet her at the residence. Deputy Todd Olson did so about 6:30 p.m., Slater said. No one answered knocks to the door, however, and after Slater arrived at the residence about 7:30 p.m., the officers decided to force entry.

"Inside, they found the two girls shot to death. Richard Rauscher was also dead from a gunshot wound.

"Deputies estimated that the three victims had been dead 12 to 24 hours."

From The Register-Guard...