Home Health Care Worker Finds Bodies Of Elderly Couple

"CARMEL, ME — State police determined that an elderly man shot his wife and then himself in a murder suicide, according to Maine State Police spokesman Stephen McCausland.

"Patricia Johnson, 69, and her husband, Laurel Johnson, 74, were found dead in their Hampden Road home on Tuesday morning.

"`We received the call about 8:30 this morning from the medical care provider who arrived at the house for a prescheduled appointment,` said Lt. Christopher Coleman, commanding officer for Criminal Investigation Division No. 2. `She couldn’t get in. She called family members to come and they went in and discovered the bodies.`

"The bodies were found in a bedroom when relatives entered the home, said McCausland.

"Coleman said state police and CID responders arrived at the residence a little after 9 a.m.

"The hospice worker visited the home daily to provide care to Patricia Johnson, according to McCausland.

"The bodies were examined by the State Medical Examiner’s Office and it was determined that both died from a gunshot wound.

"Detectives said Laurel Johnson shot his wife and then turned the .22-caliber rife on himself, McCausland said in a press release.

"McCausland said the couple last was seen alive about 7 p.m. Monday."

Source: Bangor Daily News...