Deputies Find Bodies In Front Yard Of Home

"MENIFEE, CA — A day after a Menifee couple was found dead in an apparent murder-suicide, neighbors said the two were friendly, though there were hints they had relationship problems.

"The two were discovered by Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies Sunday, March 17, in the front yard of a home in the 33000 block of Merritt Road.

"The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department received a call reporting a `domestic disturbance` at 10:07 p.m., wrote Sgt. Jeff Buompensiero in a release.

"As deputies were en route to the house, they received reports that shots had been fired. When they arrived, they found the bodies, the release said.

"Coroner’s officials have identified the woman as Debra Vandyke, 49, of Menifee. The name of the 68-year-old Menifee man has not been released. An investigation revealed the man had shot the woman and then turned the gun on himself, the sergeant wrote.

"The two were married, according to neighbors, and they moved into the single-story house on a dirt road about two months ago. Vandyke and her husband were often seen smiling and waving to neighbors as they drove by."

From The Press-Enterprise...