Two die in murder-suicide in Ypsilanti Township
![122211_murder_suicide_JNS_01[1].jpg](http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2011/12/122211_murder_suicide_JNS_01[1]-thumb-590x393-98148.jpg)
Deputies stand outside the house were two bodies were found Thursday afternoon on Lamay Street in Ypsilanti Township.
Jeff Sainlar | AnnArbor.com
A 53-year-old man is believed to have shot his 47-year-old wife to death and then turned the gun on himself at their home in the 800 block of Lamay Street in Ypsilanti Township, Jackson said.
A friend had tried to call the couple today and was not able to reach them and then drove to their house to check on them, Jackson said. The friend saw that their cars were both there, but no one answered the door. He looked in the window and saw one of them lying on the floor.
He got a neighbor to help him, and the two of them kicked down the door and discovered the bodies inside about 3:15 p.m. this afternoon, Jackson said.
A family member last had telephone contact with the couple about 10 p.m. Wednesday, Jackson said.
The Washtenaw County medical examiner has been called to the house, he said. Officials from the medical examiner's office arrived at the home at about 5:30 p.m.
Lamay Street was crowded this evening as cars coming off Holmes Road had to navigate their way around sheriff's deputies' vehicles and the cars of family members parked in front of the home. The home was taped off for police to investigate and remained dark as night fell.
Family members gathered on the lawn of the home next door to the scene of the crime declined to speak to AnnArbor.com when approached just after 5 p.m. Neighbors who answered their door on Lamay Street also declined to comment.
Police at the scene directed all questions to Jackson. Further details were not available at 6:30 p.m., as Jackson said police were waiting for the medical examiner to complete his portion of the investigation.
This is an update of a story published earlier today.
Comments
mr54
Tue, Dec 27, 2011 : 11:43 p.m.
Such a cowardly act on the man's part. Were things in their life so bad that he resorted to such a senseless act. If he no longer wished to stay alive then fine. But why include his wife in this?
15crown00
Sun, Dec 25, 2011 : 1:52 a.m.
it is so very sad
Linda
Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 11:52 p.m.
We moved to Tennessee 10 years ago and Tammy and Walter had bought this house from us. We visited some of the time that we came to Michigan. I love these people. They were so very kind. Tammy had come to the house when we were leaving and when I was leaving my best friend and we were crying she cried with us. This just blows my mind.... Unbelievable. God rest their souls. God be with their families.
DD
Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 5:47 a.m.
For everyone's curiosity..."I, me, the neighbor"...only spoke with the police and that will be the end of that. Unless the families have any questions, I will never speak of this. I just recently lost my spouse due to suicide in August 2011. My nightmares from that event in my life continue and now I have new nightmares. This is not a subject to be taken lightly. It is a very emotional event for us family members left behind to deal with the aftermath of suicide...let alone murder. Have some respect and compassion. Katie...your ma-maw was my friend and I loved her dearly also. God Bless you and your family.
OLDTIMER3
Wed, Feb 15, 2012 : 12:10 p.m.
my prayers and sympathy to you and Katie.
Katie
Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 3:14 a.m.
I knew this women, she was special to me. She was bright and a little crazy (in a good way). She was my grandmother. I miss her and wish I knew why this happened. She was very loving and caring, she didn't deserve to go out like that. Papaw, why would you do that? If you where so miserable as to kill yourself then so be it, but taking Mamaw out with you was just wrong. I have nothing to say to you. Mamaw, I will never forget you. <3
sad day
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 7:25 p.m.
I knew this woman....She was one of the sweetest people you could of ever met. This is tragic, my heart goes out to her child. I know she is among the angels.
Katie
Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 3:16 a.m.
She was a very special women, she didn't deserve to go out like that. I still cant believe shes gone.
BhavanaJagat
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 5:25 p.m.
The need for spiritual care and spiritual well-being : Very often we read about such unfortunate and painful incidents and leave the matter in the hands of the Police Department to investigate the problem. To many others, doubts arise in the mind about the existence of a benevolent God. Man has a loving God, and it appears that He may not intervene if man faces hardships. While I would not like to suggest that God is indifferent or unconcerned about human well-being, rather I would prefer to suggest that man must seek the relationship with God who could be the source of sympathy, compassion, and understanding of the human condition. The term spiritual care and spiritual well-being has to be used in the context of establishing a relationship, partnership, association, or bonding based upon the feelings, thoughts of sympathy, and understanding. The understanding that man has to develop is that of his dependence upon God's mercy, grace, and compassion and formulate a relationship to get connected to that source. I need not prove the existence of God or find His physical presence. There is mental, and physical comfort by just knowing that there is a source of compassion and by expecting it to deliver that compassion. Man defends his moral, and spiritual well-being by simply knowing that he could have a relationship with the possibility of experiencing the uplifting power of compassion. God may not intervene to change the difficult situation that imposes hardships, but it is my experience that God gives the ability to tolerate and cope with problems with a sense of patience. Man has to carry the burden of the yoke, but that burden could be light and bearable. In life and death, man has no choice other than that of seeking the blessing of mercy, grace, and compassion.
Joe_Citizen
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 4:29 p.m.
I new these two and I would have never thought this would happen. They were real nice folks and the kind who would get in there car and pick you up if it were raining out and saw you walking down their street, if you were their friend. I'm still trying to make sense of it, myself.
Tony Dearing
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 4:23 p.m.
A comment was removed because it violated our conversation guidelines. It is certainly appropriate to express sympathy or concern, but we ask commenters not to include remarks that include graphic descriptions of a crime or car accident. Thanks.
jns131
Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 1 a.m.
After growing up around legal people, thank you for keeping it clean. If you know what I mean.
tanya
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 3:04 p.m.
God bless her she was such a sweetie !!! I loved her and I loved hearing her talk we would always give each other a hug . I still can't imagine that Wednesday was the last time that I will see her. Praying for her family and friends during this time of their lost.
justcary
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 2:19 p.m.
Weird. Why would neighbors and family members decline to comment?
adp
Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 4:56 a.m.
Its not like the case is unsolved and they need information.The only time the public should be involved is when there are unanswered questions.The family and friends know the situation and the history of the couple and the friends know that the families dont want the info out there..It was a murder/suicide.The husband killed the wife and then himself..what more is there to say?There is no need for them to go into detail with the public in their time of grief since they already know what happened.They are protect their families by staying quiet. (I knew this woman and her situation)
Richard
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 7:34 p.m.
They declined to comment to the reporter not the police
Kyle Feldscher
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 4:10 p.m.
In these situations, I can completely understand the family and neighbors not wanting to comment, however, it's my job to ask anyway. It's definitely not enjoyable, trust me.
Barb
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 3:31 p.m.
Because it's their right.
WalkingJoe
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 3:31 p.m.
When our daughter was killed by her husband and then he killed himself we didn't feel like talking to the press either. Unless someone has gone through this they will never understand what the family is going through. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this tragedy.
Albert Howard
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 8:01 a.m.
May the Prince of Peace saturate Lamay Street and Ypsilanti Township.
tanya
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 3:05 p.m.
God bless u this is beautiful !!!
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 1:10 p.m.
amen
Tru2Blu76
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 7:42 a.m.
We learn of these tragic stories all too often. I can remember (decades ago) when my mother got a call from a neighbor. She took me the 3 blocks to the house of family we knew, the son was a school pal of mine. We heard the details from neighbors as we watched the body being loaded into an ambulance. The father had learned earlier that day that he had terminal cancer and had come home and shot himself. This is what stayed with me: someone had felt cornered and helpless to escape their condition and had ended life "their own way." It's a terrible thing for anyone to feel that hopeless.
RJA
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 4:32 a.m.
I heard this on the scanner also, it really is sad. I couldn't have done what the friend did (looking in the window) and found one on the floor. Not saying what the friend and neighbor did was wrong, I would have had to call the police first. Personally, I couldn't have handled it. I agree with ( justcurious) this time of the year with Christmas and the Holidays is so hard on many. Friends, neighbors, and family have their rights to decline to answer questions or speak up. I would speak up to police if I knew anything about the couple to help complete their investigation. I think it is also sad that people have a fear of getting involved. My thoughts are with all involved.
adp
Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 5:14 a.m.
In this case it was not a matter of fear..the family and friends know this woman and her situation.The article states what happened and the only question left is why?The family and close friends know why.Therefore police know what they need to know the reporter doesn't have to know.Its for the family to know not the public.The murderer killed himself, there is no one else to prosecute, no one is missing from the equation so what is there for the public to get involved in?She was a sweet woman in a bad situation like many woman.Her family is in my prayers.
adp
Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 5:07 a.m.
In this case it was not a matter of fear ...out of respect for the family they did not want to give information..the family and friends know the situation between the couple, it was not a surprise to anyone who knows this woman personally (which I do).Just as it said in the article is what happened ,the only question left is why and her family and friends know why.They are the only people who need to know why.Not the publi
Salinemary
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 3:01 a.m.
God bless them and may they rest in peace.
justcurious
Thu, Dec 22, 2011 : 10:47 p.m.
I heard this on the scanner. So very sad. This time of year is hard on so many people. The officer reporting it sounded very tired and distraught.
jns131
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 1:30 p.m.
Like I said on the Manchester post, people need to call the hotline or find someone who understands that this is the season for stuff like this to happen. Good luck to the family.
Enso
Fri, Dec 23, 2011 : 1:29 p.m.
That's actually not true about suicides... <a href="http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/suicide.asp" rel='nofollow'>http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/suicide.asp</a>
lisam
Thu, Dec 22, 2011 : 11:09 p.m.
It is so true. Suicide rates climb this time of year. It's just so sad this man had to take his wife with him, although as pointed out in the article this is "believed" what to have happened. I pray for the surviving family members.