Couple Was Last Seen In Church

"CHAPEL HILL, NC — Chatham County Sheriff's detectives are investigating the deaths of a couple married more than 40 years, found Monday afternoon in their North Chatham home.

"The bodies of Earl Lee Edwards, 65, and his wife Minnie Edwards, 67, were found in their home on 370 Joe's Drive in Chapel Hill.

"The preliminary investigation is pointing to a murder-suicide, according to the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office. The bodies were transported the UNC Hospital for an autopsy Tuesday.

"Family members were concerned when they went to visit the couple around 1:30 pm yesterday afternoon and no one came to the door, officials said. Emergency Medical personnel responded and discovered the body of Mr. Edwards lying in a bedroom. Chatham County deputies were summoned and upon entry also found the body of Mrs. Edwards in an adjacent bedroom.

"`It appears Mr. Edwards took his own life with a firearm after ending the life of his wife,` Major Gary Blankenship of the Chatham County Sheriff's Office said. `At this point, we have no reason to believe this case is anything but a murder-suicide.`

"Both were last seen on Sunday afternoon at church."

From NBC17.com...