Elderly, Divorcing Couple Found Dead

"THE VILLAGES, FL — The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office is investigating what they believe to be a murder/suicide of an elderly couple in the Villages.

"Detectives believe the two are the occupants of the 1669 Oak Forest Drive home, who were found dead by deputies Friday evening. Their names have not been released pending notification of next of kin.

"Lt. Bobby Caruthers, sheriff’s spokesman, said friends of the woman came to the sheriff’s office about 11 a.m. Friday to report they hadn’t seen her since Wednesday.

"Caruthers added the friends said the couple were going through a divorce.

"It’s not clear if the doors were locked when deputies first approached the home Friday. But Caruthers said deputies had to get a search warrant and were able to get inside the one-story home just after 6 p.m., where they found the man lying face down surrounded by blood on the bathroom floor.

"When they turned him over, a .38 caliber handgun fell out his hand and it appeared he died of a self-inflicted gunshot to the head.

"Caruthers said the woman was found face down on the bedroom floor and it wasn’t clear how she died.

"Caruthers said investigators believe the deaths occurred sometime Thursday due to that day’s newspaper being inside the home and Friday’s newspaper still outside. He said autopsies will be performed on both."

Source: Daily Commercial...