Marital Problems Cited As Root Cause Of Shooting

"MANCHESTER, PA — A Manchester Township couple who had been experiencing marital problems were found dead in their bedroom on Tuesday afternoon.

"Parag Patel, 43, fatally shot his 41-year-old wife, Niha Patel, in the head, then killed himself with a single gunshot wound to the chest, according to York County Chief Deputy Coroner Claude Stabley, who's ruled the incident a murder/suicide.

"No autopsies are planned, Stabley said.

"The bodies were found by adult family members about 1:45 p.m. in the master bedroom of the home on 970 Hedgegate Lane, but it appears the murder/suicide happened between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. Tuesday, according to Stabley.

"`She was in bed and he was on the floor next to the bed,` Stabley said. `She was in a position that indicated she might have been sleeping (when shot).`

"He said based on his examination at the scene, it appears both they died instantly or within a second or two.

"The couple's two children were at school when the shootings happened, but Niha Patel's mother and two other family members were home at the time, Stabley said.

"Investigators determined the couple had been going through marital issues, he said."

From yorkdispatch.com...