Thursday, June 28, 2012

Spring Grove, PA: UPDATE(2): Couple dead after a murder-suicide in Spring Grove

A man shot and killed his wife in North Codorus Township on Thursday, and then turned the gun on himself. When police arrived, they found the couple dead.

Police responded to the 1900 block of Stoverstown Road in North Codorus Township just before 5 p.m and found James Witte, 42, and his wife Holly Witte, 41 dead.

"Officers found two people deceased from obvious gunshot wounds," stated Southwestern Regional Police Chief Gregory Bean.

The incident began when a family member was called by James Witte at approx. 4:30 pm. He advised that he was at his home and that he was about to shoot his wife and then himself.

The telephone line was then disconnected. The family member went to the couples’ home and found the couple deceased.

Police say that the husband used a rifle in the shooting and believe the incident was the result of issues with the couple’s marriage.

"Any suicide is always a sad situation, you have questions that nobody can ever answer," stated Chief Deputy Coroner Claude Stabley.

The couple reportedly had several children and stepchildren, including a 7-year-old boy who lived with the family. A neighbor told us that before the shooting occurred, the mother took the boy out of the house.

"Him and his wife wasn't getting along,” explained neighbor Roger Shaw.

Neighbors stood in their yards and watched the taped off scene in disbelief.

"i couldn't believe that this happened, I just can't believe it," Shaw added.

The forensics team, coroner, and police department have been on scene since the incident occurred trying to put all the pieces together to find out exactly what happened.

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