Elderly Couple Dead In Murder/Suicide "Arrangement"

"LOVETWON, AL — Houston County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a homicide-suicide in the Lovetown community near Ashford.

"Sheriff Andy Hughes confirmed deputies responded Saturday morning to a murder/suicide at a single-story home on 3125 Houston County Road 55 in the Lovetown community.

"According to a statement from Houston County Sheriff’s Capt. Antonio Gonzalez, deputies responded to a residence in the 3100 block of South Houston County Road 55 to a report of a possible suicide around 9 a.m. Saturday.

"As deputies arrived they discovered two victims, a man and woman, who had suffered fatal gunshot wounds.

"Gonzalez said in the statement the sheriff’s preliminary investigation revealed evidence of a possible suicide pact between the two people, a husband and wife, during which the husband apparently assisted in the death of his wife before taking his own life.

"Houston County Coroner Robert Byrd responded to the home, which he said is located about three miles south of Ashford.

"Byrd said authorities believe the shooting likely happened sometime during the early morning hours Saturday.
Byrd identified the couple as 91-year-old Laurence Dantzer and his 88-year-old wife, Phyllis Dantzer.

"`It looks like a homicide-suicide arrangement,` Byrd said. `It seems like he was very methodical and that they agreed to do it this way.`

"Byrd called the case a first for him because others he’s responded to involved one unwilling party and a willing party when he’s responded to homicide-suicides.

"`I can never remember a case like this in my entire career,` Byrd said. `This seems like they came to a meeting of the minds of how they wanted to end their lives together.`"

Source: Dothan Eagle...