Bitter Divorce Leaves Three Dead

"SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST, CA — A Northern California man accused of following his wife and her lawyer from court to a resort restaurant during a break from divorce proceedings, then fatally shooting both of them, was found dead at his home early Thursday following a nearly 12-hour standoff, a sheriff's spokeswoman said.

"James Williamson allegedly shot his estranged wife, 65-year-old Sandra Williamson, and her Fresno-based attorney on Wednesday as the two were leaving Ducey's on the Lake, a restaurant near the Sierra National Forest in the unincorporated Madera County community of Bass Lake.

"The 71-year-old Williamson confronted the two women at about 1 p.m. Wednesday and began beating the lawyer, 65-year-old Judith Soley, Madera County sheriff's spokeswoman Erica Stuart said. He then shot Soley and chased his estranged wife into the restaurant, shooting her near the restaurant kitchen, she said.

"Williamson fled to his home, about three miles from the restaurant, after the shooting, Stuart said.

"The Madera County Regional SWAT Team searched the house with a robot and threw tear gas inside after numerous attempts to communicate with Williamson. Deputies stormed the home after midnight and found Williamson's body on a bed in one of the bedrooms with an apparent gunshot wound to the head, Stuart said."

From MercuryNews.com...