Thursday, January 26, 2012

Mounds View, MN: Mounds View couple's death likely murder-suicide

Police tentatively identified the man and woman found dead in a Mounds View home Wednesday as Mark Schnor, 47, and his wife, Christine Schnor, 39.

Each of them suffered a single gunshot wound to the head, according to Mounds View Police Chief Thomas Kinney. A handgun was recovered at the scene.

Authorities did not officially identify the deaths as a murder-suicide because a final medical examiner's report won't be completed for several weeks due to pending toxicology tests. However, Kinney said, "It is consistent with that scenario."

Evidence suggests that Mark Schnor was the shooter, Kinney said. No note was found at the scene, so it's unclear if Christine Schnor was a willing participant, the chief said.

"We are unable to determine that at this stage, and maybe we'll never know for sure," he said.

Police are investigating whether any electronic notes or messages may have been left behind.

The couple were found lying in their bed, which was located in the living room. Shades were drawn, so when relatives went to check on the couple's welfare Wednesday they had to call police about 2:30 p.m. to gain entry into the home in the 2900 block of County Road 10.

Relatives had not heard from the couple in about a week. It's unclear how long they may have been dead.

Kinney said relatives reported that both Mark and Christine Schnor had health issues, including depression, and that they had been struggling financially.

There was no history of police calls to the address aside from a medical call last year, Kinney said.

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