Botched Suicide Bid Follows Murder Of TV Personality

"ST. GABRIEL, LA — Baton Rouge television personality Scott Rogers was shot and killed inside his home in St. Gabriel, La. Wednesday afternoon. Investigators say they believe his son-in-law shot and killed Rogers and then turned the gun on himself, but survived.

"The alleged gunman, identified as 36-year-old Mathew Hodgkinson, was rushed to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital where he is listed in critical condition. Hodgkinson was also a producer of Around Town, a show Rogers hosted that airs on Saturday and Sunday mornings on WAFB-TV.

"`We have detectives at the hospital,` says Iberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi. `Hodgkinson is still alive. He's on a ventilator and he's sedated, but he's still alive at this time.`

"Deputies were called to the scene on 1045 Daisy Avenue at 12:40 p.m.

`"We received a call that shots were heard as somebody was entering the residence,` the Sheriff said. `On follow up, it was described as a murder/suicide scene and we're investigating it as a homicide until it's determined what we have here.`

"`It was determined that Scott Rogers was deceased and another male at the residence had received a shot to the head and was in critical condition,` said Iberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi.

"Hodgkinson is married to Roger's daughter, Stassi said. The sheriff said the home had been the scene of a `bunch of stress` in the past several weeks and had previously responded to calls at the home.

"`It's been topsy-turvy at this residence. We responded to a couple of calls. It's been a high stress environment for this family and looks like it culminated in this,` the Sheriff said."

Read more at WAFB...

UPDATE

09/04/2014 — Killer was victim's son-in-law and lover...

Former Domestic Partner To Be Charged

"JUPITER, FL — A Florida woman killed her former domestic partner's 2-year-old daughter in a botched double murder/suicide, authorities said.

"Kimberly Lucas, 40, also attempted to kill Elliana Lucas-Jamason's 10-year-old brother before trying to take her own life, the Jupiter Police Department said.

"Little Elliana was found in the bathtub of her Jupiter home on Monday and was later pronounced dead at Jupiter Medical Center.

"Elliana's older brother and suspect Kimberly Lucas, 40, were also found in the home and taken to the hospital, cops said. Police are not identifying Elliana's brother or her mother.

"Kimberly Lucas with Elliana Lucas-Jamason, the daughter of Lucas' former domestic partner. Lucas is accused of killing Elliana on Memorial Day. Jacquelyn Jamason via Facebook Kimberly Lucas with Elliana Lucas-Jamason, the daughter of Lucas' former domestic partner. Lucas is accused of killing Elliana on Memorial Day.

"The boy called 911 and had heroically tried to revive his sister using CPR.

"`I think he's the bravest person I ever met,` Jupiter Police Chief Frank Kitzerow said at a press conference on Tuesday.

"Lucas, in custody at the hospital, will be charged with homicide and the attempted murder of Elliana's brother sometime on Tuesday, according to the police chief. Lucas may be in critical condition, according to reports.

"`It appears at this time that this incident is domestic related and that the suspect did intend to take her own life after commiting these crimes,` Kitzerow said."

From the NY Daily News...

Neighbors Tip Police To Attempted Murder/Suicide

"WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA — Tragedy struck West Hollywood yesterday when a man allegedly stabbed his boyfriend/roommate to death and then attempted suicide.

"The report of a possible altercation came in just before 5:00 pm from the 900 block of Palm Avenue, a street that runs between Santa Monica Boulevard on the south to Holloway on the north.

"According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, upon arriving at the scene on a welfare check, deputies were told by neighbors that there may have been a homicide and a possible suicide.

"Forcing their way into the apartment unit, the deputies found a man lying on the kitchen floor with multiple stab wounds.

"Paramedics were called in and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Continuing their search of the premises, deputies then discovered a man hiding in a bathroom.

"Homicide detectives say he appeared to have taken a large quantity of pills in an attempt to kill himself.

"He was taken to a hospital for treatment and evaluation."

From wehonews.com...

"They Were A Really Nice Couple"

"SAN ANTONIO, TX — Two men were found dead in a North Side home Saturday in what police are investigating as a murder/suicide.

"Around 3 p.m., police responding to a request to check on someone's welfare went to a home in the 13400 block of Vista Del Mar. Inside, they found two bodies with gunshot wounds.

"One of the men was in his 20s; the other was in his 40s, police said.

"San Antonio Police Department Detective Leroy Carrion said there were no signs of forced entry, but there were signs of a struggle in the home.

"Several neighbors stood outside watching the police investigation.

"`They were a really nice couple,` said a woman who lives across the street. `They had just moved here from the Valley.`

"The neighbor, who asked not to be identified, said the two men moved into the house around November, and had been redecorating.

"One of the men, according to the neighbor, was a pilot for a produce company. He would give fresh produce to neighbors as gifts, she said.

"`Nothing ever seemed suspicious,` the neighbor said. `I would never think that this would happen. They seemed so happy together.`

"The neighbor said she had just spoken to one of the men Thursday as he installed lights on his garage. On Friday, she said, the garage door was open all day, which was unusual.

"`People don't just leave their garage doors open around here,` the neighbor said.

"Police said other neighbors also noticed the open garage.

"They also saw one of the couple's several dogs walking around unattended, which prompted a call to police.

"Several dogs were removed from the property."

From mysanantonio.com...

Gun Purchased The Day Before Murder/Suicide

"WESTBROOK, ME — Patrick Milliner, 30, of South Portland fatally shot Matthew Rairdon, 22, of Westbrook inside Rairdon's Main Street apartment in Westbrook Saturday morning and then shot himself, according to Maine State Police.

"The apparent murder-suicide likely took place early Saturday morning, just after midnight, as Rairdon was returning home from work, Maine State Police and Westbrook Police reported.

"A female roommate of Rairdon's found the two bodies about 11 a.m. Saturday, police reported. Police said the two men are former lovers whose relationship recently ended.

"Detectives say Milliner shot Rairdon with a handgun inside Rairdon's apartment and then shot himself. A .40 caliber Glock handgun was found by Milliner's body.

"Rairdon was a nurse at Mercy Hospital and Milliner was a correctional guard at the Maine Correctional Facility in Windham. He currently was attending the correctional guard training program at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy and purchased the .40 caliber Glock handgun on Friday, police reported.

"Because of the men's prior relationship, Rairdon's death will be classified as a domestic violence homicide. Autopies were expected to take place Sunday at the State Medical Examiner's Office in Augusta.

"Rairdon's death was the state's 23rd homicide of the year and the tenth homicide that was domestic violence related, police reported.

"The bodies were found inside the first floor apartment at 318A Main St., at the corner of Waltham Street, Westbrook."

Source: Portland Daily Sun...

Three Dead After Argument Escalates

"EL MONTE, CA — An El Monte man apparently killed his daughter and her girlfriend before turning the gun on himself in a double murder/suicide, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said Wednesday.

"Los Angeles County coroner's officials identified the three dead as Harry Maldonado Jr., 65, Evie Maldonado, 32, and Diana Amaya, 38. They were found shot to death inside the garage of an apartment complex, where they lived together with other relatives, said Lt. Eddie Hernandez of the sheriff's homicide bureau.

"The shooting was reported Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at an apartment at 9935 Marshall St., authorities said. El Monte police officers went to the apartment but were told the shooter and the two victims were in the garage. The three were pronounced dead at the scene.

"Family members told investigators the women were domestic partners and had often argued.

"`This time, for whatever reason, Harry interjected himself between the two females,` Hernandez said. `What we know is that somehow this escalated the event and Harry armed himself with a handgun.`

"Hernandez said Harry Maldonado shot his daughter and Amaya before turning the gun on himself. A handgun was recovered at the scene."

Read more at the L.A. Times...

Friends Suspect Suicide By Cop After Shooting

"ORANGE, CA — Jessica Gonzalez, who was being sought since Thursday for the fatal shooting of her life partner Jennifer Roberta Solorio in Orange, was shot to death by Santa Ana Police Sunday morning, according to friends and family. Loved ones believe the 35-year-old essentially committed suicide by cop, confronting two officers with a fake gun around 8 a.m. in an alley in the 800 block of South Townsend Street.

"The woman who was shot was pronounced dead at a local hospital and a gun recovered at the scene did not belong to officers, according to Santa Ana Police. Neither that agency nor the Orange Police Department confirmed this morning that the woman shot was Gonzalez or that the gun pointed at cops was fake.

"Gonzalez had been on the run since being accused of fatally shooting Solorio, her 44-year-old life partner, in their apartment complex in the 2000 block of East Palmyra Avenue in Orange Thursday afternoon. Solorio also died at a local hospital.

"A family member [said] Gonzalez had suffered years of abuse at the hands of Solorio, another claim police have not confirmed."

From ocweekly.com...

Shooter Attempts Suicide At Hospital

"PHOENIX, AZ — Two men are in critical condition Tuesday morning after one of the men is suspected of shooting the other in Phoenix Monday before shooting himself at a hospital, according to authorities.

"About 8 p.m. Thursday, the suspected shooter, a 28-year-old man, walked into the Jamba Juice near Interstate 17 and Thunderbird Road with a handgun and got into an argument with his 24-year-old ex-boyfriend, who is a store employee, Sgt. Trent Crump, a spokesman from the Phoenix Police Department said.

"The man is suspected of forcing three employees to the rear of the business where he took all their cell phones and damaged the store’s phone, according to police.

"The man took his ex-boyfriend outside to the parking lot of the store where he had parked his Suburban, Crump said. The victim fought back and at one point caused the gunman to drop his weapon, according to police.

"The man who brought the gun regained control of the weapon and is suspected of shooting his ex-boyfriend twice in the upper body before fleeing, Crump said.

"He drove to John C. Lincoln Deer Valley Hospital, where he shot himself in the head in the lobby when the first officer arrived.

"The gunman was flown to a second trauma center. The man who was shot near the Jamba Juice was in critical condition but expected to survive, Crump said."

From azcentral.com...

Police Suspect Murder/Suicide In "Chilling Discovery"

"CHENEY, WA — Investigators in Cheney made a chilling discovery Saturday afternoon. They found the bodies of a man and a woman, both possibly trans-gender, in an apartment building.

"Investigators said it is an apparent murder/suicide. They also found a pistol and two shell casings near the bodies. It happened at the Rosebrook Inn apartments on 304 West 1st Street.

"Investigators interviewed several neighbors. Some were in tears as they tried to piece together what happened. Gayle King lives next door to the crime scene. He said nothing like this has happened before in this complex.

"`It's a little weird, a little freaky,` said King. `You never think about it. It’s like the land slide in Woody Island you hear about it but don't think its going to happen to you.`

"The Spokane County Sheriff's Office said the investigation was put on hold for most of the afternoon until police could get a warrant to enter inside the room. Just before 5pm, forensics teams and detectives arrived with the search warrant. Investigators are working to piece together is the time-line and how long the two victims were inside. Investigators said the woman victim lived in room five. The man lived in room seven. Officials said that somebody reported that man missing on Friday.

"At this point, one official said they are not looking for any suspects at this time. But they are leaning towards calling the scene a murder-suicide."

From KREM.com...

"They Were Really Nice Guys"

"LAKE WORTH, FL — Two men are dead after a recently ended relationship turned into a murder-suicide this afternoon, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said.

"Gabriel Ferrarotti, 37, was shot and killed in his Lake Worth apartment by Leopold Azplazu, 32, who then turned the gun and killed himself, said Teri Barbera, sheriff’s spokeswoman.

"The men had been in a relationship for about 11 years and had recently broken up, Barbera said. Azplazu was supposed to move out of the apartment Tuesday night, his friends told investigators. When Ferrarotti did not show up for work Wednesday, deputies were asked to to conduct a welfare check at the apartment.

"At about 12:30 p.m. today, the deputies went to the 100 block of South Lakeside Drive and discovered the bodies of both men inside the apartment, Barbera said.

"Deputies remained at the scene late this evening as crime scene tape blocked the street. Two cars were towed away from the residence.

"Tibor Nagy, of Lake Worth, said he knows the owner of the residence and met the two men while attending cookouts in the neighborhood.

"`They were really nice guys,` he said. `Something drastic must have happened between them. I’m really surprised. They were the nicest two guys you wanted to meet.`"

From the Palm Beach Post...

Police Arrive Too Late To Stop Murder/Suicide

"HOUSTON, TX — Two women are dead following an apparent murder-suicide in east Houston Tuesday afternoon.

"Houston police say a 23-year-old woman who shared a home on 8706 Wiggins with her 30-year-old partner called 911 around 5:45pm to report a domestic disturbance. The 30-year-old had a gun, she said, and they were having a fight.

"By the time police arrived, it was too late.

"`Prior to the police arrival to the scene, one of the residents here wound up killing and shooting the other and then shooting and killing themselves,` reported Sgt. Robert Blain with the Houston Police Department.

"Both neighbors and family members with whom we spoke said the two women had lived in the home together for years. Police couldn't say whether there had been prior domestic disturbances there."

From KRTK...

UPDATE:

01/03/2013 — "I love you too" posted on Facebook before shooting...

Struggle Ends In Murder/Suicide

"PHOENIX, AZ — The daughter of former state lawmaker Kathy Augustine, who was murdered, has been found dead in her Arizona home.

"Dallas Augustine 32, and her partner, Jessie McCaskill 50, were found in their Phoenix home Monday night. According to the Phoenix Police Department, there was evidence at the scene that suggested a struggle between the two ended with a murder/suicide. Police said it appeared one of the two was packing their belongings to leave.

"An Augustine family member confirmed the deaths.

"Dallas Augustine's mother, Kathy Augustine, died in 2006. Her husband, Chaz Higgs, was convicted of poisoning her with a paralyzing drug. Augustine was impeached in 2004 for illegally using her office for political purposes. Dallas Augustine unsuccessfully ran for State Assembly. She recently began working for the Arizona Department of Corrections."

From KLAS...

Two Men Dead In Fatal Love Triangle

"BROOKLYN, NY — Two men died in an apparent murder-suicide in Brooklyn when a love triangle turned fatal, police said.

"Jason Lopez, 22, found his boyfriend Tory Curtis in their East New York home with an unidentified third man, according to cops.

"The third man hid in the closet in horror as Lopez shot Curtis, 23, to death and then fatally shot himself at about 3 p.m. on Tuesday.

"The terrified survivor then fled the apartment, witnesses said.

"`He came out from the house screaming,` said a witness. `He said, 'My best friend got shot and the guy killed himself.'`

"He said, `My boyfriend!` Then he fainted."

From NYDailyNews.com...

Three Shot, Two Dead In Apparent Murder/Suicide

"DALTON, NH — The New Hampshire attorney general’s office says the two men found dead in a Dalton, N.H., home were shot and killed in an apparent murder suicide. A third man was injured.

"The attorney general’s office says it appears that 45-year-old Christopher Smith shot and killed 48-year-old Joseph Besk then shot and injured 54-year-old Wayne Ainsworth before taking his own life.

"Police say the investigation is continuing. Both Besk and Ainsworth were listed on the state’s sex offender registry after being convicted of aggravated felonious sexual assault. A story by The Berlin Daily Sun says the two were married in 2010, while Besk was finishing his prison sentence."

From CBS Boston...

"Double Homicide" Declared Murder/Suicide

"ODESSA, TX — A 51-year-old Odessa man fatally shot his 46-year-old boyfriend and then himself Jan. 11 at their 516 Wabash Ave. home, police said Monday.

"An Odessa police news released stated preliminary autopsy results from the Ector County Medical Examiner’s Office and information collected at the crime scene led police to determine DJuan Larue Weatherspoon shot Macca Lynn Young in the chest then himself in the head.

"With the only homicide suspect dead, the case is considered closed."

From oaoa.com...

Drinking, Dancing, And Death

"OCALA, FL - The two women who were found dead Saturday in their southwest Ocala home had spent the previous night together drinking and dancing at a local pub, according to a report made available on Monday.

"The report also said that the bodies of Donna Marie Groves and Wendy White Kucia were found lying side by side in bed. Kucia, 51, cradled a .38-caliber snub-nosed revolver while Groves, 43, had an aluminum takeout food container on her chest.

"The woman, described as lovers, died of single gunshot wounds in what appears to be a murder-suicide, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office report.

"It was 1:48 p.m. Saturday when Groves' stepfather, Jerry J. Deming, found the bodies at the Ocala home they shared, 7707 S.W. 81st St., in the Hibiscus Park subdivision off State Road 200.

"Marion sheriff's spokesman Judge Cochran said detectives are awaiting autopsy results before issuing the official cause of deaths.

"They are also awaiting results of ballistics tests to determine whether the gun found on Kucia's chest was in fact the weapon used in the shootings.

"Michelle Everard, 39, who spent Friday night with the couple at Our Place Saloon [MySpace], said her friends did not appear to be having any major relationship problems.

"Everard, who doesn't drink, was the designated driver that night. She drove Kucia's car and dropped the women home at about 1 a.m. Saturday, she said Monday.

"The couple reportedly told Everard to keep the car so that she could run errands Saturday morning. She was at Walmart when she received a call from detectives.

"`I guess I was the last person to see them alive,` said Everard, adding the couple had been dating for 12 years."

From Ocala.com...

Dead Men Argued Before Murder/Suicide

"SAN DIEGO, CA - Two men are dead in what appears to be a murder-suicide in a City Heights apartment on Friday.

"San Diego police, conducting a welfare check at La Hacienda Apartments in the 3900 block of Wilson Avenue, found the two bodies around 4 p.m..

"`The door was closed,` described Lt. David Nisleit with the San Diego Police Department. We could see inside that there were two dead males on the ground.`

"A co-worker of one of the men had requested the welfare check after the person failed to show up at work.

"Police say they also found a gun inside the apartment. It's not known how long the bodies lay there, but neighbor Steven Stuhler heard gunshots just the day before.

"`I heard about 6 or 7 gunshots,` Stuhler told San Diego 6. `And the cops saw me walking down the street and they started asking me some questions.`

"Police have not identified the men but the gay & lesbian news website GLTNN says they are Eric Schulthise and Bob Agnew. Schulthise worked at SeaWorld and was a go-go dancer at the North Park bar Bacchus. Bob Agnew was a former Naval Academy instructor. The site claims the two men dated off and on.

"Neighbors report having seen the two men recently arguing in front of the building.

"The deaths have scared people living in this City Heights neighborhood. `It's shocking,` one woman told us. `It's always been a good neighborhood.`"

From sandiego6.com...

Ladies' Night

"Statesboro, GA - The deaths of two women found in a burning house on Harden Road Wednesday were ruled a murder and suicide.

"Kiona Thais Lively, 27, shot Naumbyia T. German, 26, several times before setting German's body and the house on fire, said Statesboro Police Chief Stan York.

"Then, Lively `took her own life with a small caliber firearm,` he said. `This crime apparently occurred during a domestic dispute between the two females who were romantically involved.`

"The women, who considered themselves married since a ceremony in Toronto, Canada in March, 2007, lived together in the Harden Road home with German's mother, who suffers from Huntington's disease, said Statesboro Police Capt. Scott Brunson.

"The fire damaged the kitchen and other areas of the home. Statesboro firefighters responding to the initial fire call discovered Lively's body in a bedroom while extinguishing the flames and immediately called Statesboro Police, he said.

"After police arrived firefighters cleared the home of smoke so police detectives could conduct an investigation. They later discovered German's body in the bathroom, Brunson said.

"Autopsies performed on Lively and German at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Coastal Crime Lab in Savannah revealed German suffered multiple gunshot wounds to her body, and burns to her body after she died.

"Lively died from a single gunshot wound to the chest, he said."

Source: Statesboro Herald...

Gay Caballeros Muertos

"Adra, Spain - A Moroccan man has allegedly killed his ex-husband in Almería, before committing suicide himself.

"The victim, a 34-year-old Spaniard, was knifed in the neck in the doorway to his own home in calle Natalio Rivas in Adra.

"The alleged killer, his ex-husband, was found dead three hours later, at 6pm, by the Guardia Civil on waste ground near Adra.

"Although the investigation is in its early stages, it is believed that the couple's break-up two months ago could have been a motive for the murder.

"This is the first known case of marital murder within a homosexual couple since gay marriage was legalised in Spain in April 2005."

From ThinkSpain...

Authorities Won't Ask, Won't Tell

"Solebury, PA - A Solebury man shot and killed his male partner and then shot himself in the head at their upscale home in the affluent Central Bucks County township.

"A cleaning woman discovered the body of the 48-year-old victim inside the garage of the home at 6157 Upper York Road Thursday morning around 8:50 a.m. and notified authorities.

"Authorities arrived and discovered a harrowing scene: the bullet-riddled body in the garage, blood around the house, overturned furniture that indicated a struggle and the body of the 50-year-old shooter in the master bedroom, dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound between the eyes.

"Was it a crime of passion? Authorities say it’s too soon to say.

"Police were not immediately releasing the names of the men involved."

Source: Courier Times...