Desperate act – married couple dead: suspected of murder and suicide

The family lived in a multi-generational house, an agricultural estate in Schladming. The 78-year-old, who was reportedly quite vigorous, always came to breakfast first in the morning. This time she and her husband (87) were not there at 5:45 am.

Family liked the two
The concerned family kept an eye on it. And made the terrible discovery: the elderly woman lay dead in her bed, her husband on the floor in front of it, also lifeless. The immediately alerted rescuers could do nothing more, only death could be determined.

Both fatalities had serious gunshot wounds. “You have to assume murder and suicide, there is no evidence of a third person,” said police spokesman Markus Lamb. The previously impeccable 87-year-old had a gun law document and was legally in possession of several hunting weapons. No one in the big house had heard the shots.

ordered autopsy
The man had not been in good health for a long time and was also depressed. “He would have said several times that he didn’t want to live anymore,” Lamb says. He may have taken his wife with him when he died. Lamb: “There are currently no indications of a decision to retire together.”

The public prosecutor in Leoben ordered an autopsy on the two bodies. It should provide information about the exact sequence of events. The evaluation of secure tracks is still pending. The severely affected family members are taken care of by the crisis intervention team.