Bodies Found In "Advanced State Of Decomposition"

"RIDGECREST, CA — An autopsy on two people found dead at their residence in the 600 block of West Mary Ann Avenue is scheduled for Friday.

"Ridgecrest Police Sgt. Justin Dampier said officers were dispatched to an address in the 600 block of West Mary Ann Avenue at approximately 11 a.m. to do a welfare check of the occupants.

"`We discovered that two occupants of the residence were deceased and in advanced stages of decomposition,` he said. `The preliminary investigation leads us to believe that this was a murder-suicide.`

"Investigators from the Ridgecrest Police Department, Kern County Coroner’s Office and Kern County District Attorney’s Crime Lab responded to the scene.

"The initial investigation indicated that the first victim died as a result of homicide and the second victim died as a result of suicide. However, a final determination will not be made until autopsies are conducted and the investigation is concluded.

"Names of the victim(s) and suspect will not be released pending positive identification and notification of the next of kin through the Kern County Coroner."

From The Daily Independent...