Category: Type: Homicide-Suicide

Homicide followed by completed suicide.

Gail Caulfield

No PhotoName: Gail Caulfield.
Died: May 10, 2017 (Body found).
Age at death: 75.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Deltona, Florida, USA.
Disability: Alzheimer’s disease.

Details:
Gail was shot by her husband. He buried her body and claimed she had moved away. Some time later, he committed suicide himself just after telling police where her body was.

Case status:
Laurence Caulfield (Husband), deceased.

Source:
Deputies investigate possible murder-suicide of elderly Deltona couple
Detectives investigating possible murder-suicide in Deltona after man found dead from self-inflicted gunshot wound
Body found in back yard of Deltona home where husband killed self, deputies say
Volusia deputies find body buried in yard after man leaves note about killing wife, kills self
Florida man shoots self and says wife is buried out back
Woman dies, man kills himself when confronted by Osceola County deputies
Sheriff: Human remains found in Deltona backyard where man took his own life, left note saying he killed wife
Man Kills Himself And Leaves Note Saying He Buried Wife In The Backyard
Fla. man kills self, claims in note he buried wife’s body in yard
Man killed wife who was suffering from Alzheimer’s, deputies say

Estelle Swanson

Photo of Essie Swanson, a middle-aged woman with short light-brown hair, fair skin, and glasses, wearing a sundress and photographed outside.Name: Estelle “Essie” Millifera Swanson.
Died: April 9, 2017.
Age at death: 66.
Cause of death: Knife wound.
Location: Kirkland, Washington, USA.
Disability: Chronic illness or mental illness.

Details:
Essie was stabbed to death by her husband in a murder-suicide.

She was a retired physical therapist and the mother to one daughter. She enjoyed woodworking, hiking, and badminton. She volunteered for a cat rescue, fostering kittens who needed a temporary home to grow big enough to be adopted. When she was murdered, she had just bought tickets and was looking forward to traveling the world, a life-long dream.

Case status:
David Swanson (Husband), deceased.

Source:
Police: Kirkland couple dead in murder-suicide were confronting ‘health issues’
Essie Swanson Obituary – Kirkland, Washington

Wilma Paletti

No PhotoName: Wilma Paletti.
Died: March 29, 2017.
Age at death: 75.
Cause of death: Knife wound.
Location: Felegara, Parma, Italy.
Disability: Chronic illness; bedbound.

Details:
Wilma was stabbed to death by her husband in a murder-suicide.

Case status:
Gianfranco Carpana (Husband), deceased.

Source:
Homicide-suicide near Parma
Felegara, uccide la moglie malata con un coltello e si suicida

Kanchana

No PhotoName: Kanchana.
Died: March 7, 2017.
Age at death: 28.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Trang, Thailand.
Disability: Chronic encephalitis.

Details:
Kanchana’s mother strangled her before committing suicide.

She left behind two children, aged two and nine when she died. They went to live with relatives.

Case status:
Somjai (Mother), deceased.

Sources:
Mother kills ailing daughter, then hangs herself

Ruth Bain

Photo of Ruth Bain, an older woman with pale skin, wearing a red-striped top and pearl earrings. Her hair is short, curly, and nearly white.Name: Ruth Bain.
Died: March 4, 2017.
Age at death: 82.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Denton, Texas, USA.
Disability: Dementia; stroke.

Details:
Ruth was shot by her husband in a murder-suicide.

She liked gardening and doing volunteer work.

Case status:
Joe Bain (Husband), deceased.

Source:
Fearing nursing home, elderly Denton man kills wife before killing himself
Jacquielynn Floyd: Call it desperation, but don’t call it love
Denton Tragedy Highlights Lack of Suicide Support for Texas’ Elderly

Fung Shuk-ying

No PhotoName: Fung Shuk-ying.
Died: February 15, 2017.
Age at death: 56.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Fung Shuk-ying’s husband strangled her with a belt in a murder-suicide.

Case status:
Au Kin-ming (Husband), deceased.

Source:
Hong Kong couple found dead in suspected murder-suicide
Hong Kong couple found dead in suspected murder-suicide
Hong Kong couple found dead in suspected murder-suicide
Man suspected of jumping to death after strangling wife
Hong Kong couple found dead in suspected murder-suicide
The struggle for Hong Kong’s old and sick to die with dignity

James Smith

No PhotoName: James Smith.
Died: February 1, 2017.
Age at death: 68.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: San Diego, California, USA.
Disability: TBI from car accident; wheelchair user.

Details:
James was shot by his wife in a murder-suicide.

Case status:
Candace Smith (Wife), deceased.

Source:
Wife, Husband Die in Murder-Suicide Shooting in San Carlos
Caretaker kills disabled husband, self at San Carlos home
Lake Murray Couple Die in Murder-Suicide
Wife, Husband Killed in Murder-Suicide Shooting ID’d

Ellen McKenzie

Sepia-tone photo of Ellen MacKenzie, a middle-aged woman with light skin and dark hair, wearing a hat and smiling.Name: Ellen McKenzie.
Died: January 30, 2017.
Age at death: 48.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA.
Disability: Chronic illness, depression.

Details:
Ellen was shot in the head by her boyfriend in a murder-suicide.

Case status:
Joseph Yates (Boyfriend), deceased.

Source:
East Ridge couple who died in apparent murder-suicide remembered as very close
Police confirm murder-suicide in East Ridge
Medical examiner: East Ridge man killed girlfriend, self in murder-suicide
UPDATE: East Ridge PD identifies 2 people killed in murder-suicide on Shelby Circle

Mercedes Witterman

No PhotoName: Mercedes “Bunny” Witterman.
Died: January 16, 2017.
Age at death: 69.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Sylmar, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; wheelchair user.

Details:
Mercedes was shot by her husband, who then shot himself.

She was a retired nurse who like crafting.

Case status:
Rubin Witterman (Husband), deceased.

Source:
Mercedes S. Witterman’s Obituary on Los Angeles Daily News
Death of Sylmar couple investigated as possible murder-suicide
Mercedes Witterman, 69 – The Homicide Report

Patricia Maulder

No PhotoName: Patricia Anne Maulder.
Died: January 14, 2017.
Age at death: 66.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Waipukurau, New Zealand.
Disability: Mental illness; chronic anxiety.

Details:
Patricia’s husband killed her before dying by suicide. His daughter-in-law thinks he believed Patricia would not be able to cope without him.

Patricia kept a neat garden. Before retirement, she and her husband had run a fish-and-chip shop.

Case Status:
Kevin Maulder (Husband), deceased.

Sources:
Murder-suicide couple ‘victims of mental health stigma’, coroner finds
Deceased Waipukurau couple named
Couple found dead in Waipukurau named