Thursday, June 14, 2012

Lebanon County, PA: UPDATE (2): Murder-suicide ruled death of Lebanon County couple

UPDATE:

State Police have confirmed the deaths as a murder-suicide. No note was left so the reason for the killings isn't known.
__________________________________________

The Lebanon County Coroner will perform autopsies Thursday morning on an elderly couple who was found dead inside their home Tuesday.

State Police won't talk about the circumstances surrounding an elderly couple’s death until their autopsies are complete but they will say that both Wayne and Barbara Schmitt were found dead with gunshot wounds. They were both 80 years old.

Tuesday, the couple's family called State Police to check up on them at their Rosemont Drive home in Jackson Township, Lebanon County. Next door neighbors Betty and John Parsons gave the trooper a key to get in.

"She's been having some health issues recently, but nothing that was tragic,” stated Betty Parsons. “We talked to them Saturday, he had just bought plants."

The State Trooper found the couple who appeared to be shot, on their couch. The news shook up this quiet retirement community.

"We were shocked. I mean both of us stood here because we heard DOA and were just shocked," Betty Parsons added.

"It's upsetting to have this kind of news,” John Parsons admitted. “Can't say I want it to happen in my neighborhood, next door certainly don't. I wish there is something I could have done."

No comments: