Bodies Found During Welfare Check

"SANTA ANA, CA — Authorities on Thursday identified a couple found dead in an apparent murder/suicide in their Santa Ana home.

"Freda Griep Bryson, 78, and Michael James Worden, 71, were found in a bedroom of their single-story patio home in the Shady Hollow Park Center Home Association in the 2100 block of East Wellington Avenue, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.

"The bodies were discovered after a woman called police shortly before 6 p.m. to ask for help checking on her mother, whom she `hadn’t heard from in some time,` Santa Ana police Cmdr. Eric Paulson said.

"The daughter met the officers at the home and let them in with a spare key, Paulson said.

"The officers found the bodies of Bryson and Worden, who had lived together for 25 years, in bed with fatal gunshot wounds, Bertagna said.

"Police recovered a handgun they believe was used in the shootings, which they are investigating as a murder/suicide, Bertagna said. A suicide note was found in the bedroom, but its contents have not been revealed, he said. `Detectives believe he shot her and then shot himself.`

"An autopsy performed on Worden concluded he died of `gunshot wounds of the head` and his death was ruled a suicide, said Supervising Deputy Coroner Kelly Keyes. Bryson’s autopsy is scheduled to be performed later this week.

"It wasn’t immediately clear how long the bodies were in the home before they were discovered."

Source: ocregister.com...