Murder-Suicide Suspected As Woman, Man Found Dead in Murrieta Home

MURRIETA, CA - A man and woman were found shot dead in a Murrieta home after police served a search warrant and they apparently died in a murder-suicide, authorities say.

The 53-year-old man and 51-year-old woman, whose identities were being withheld, were located Friday after Murrieta police and Riverside County sheriff's deputies served a search warrant at the residence in the 36000 block of Moonbrook Lane, near Winchester Road/State Route 79.

The search stemmed from a missing person and suspicious circumstances investigation that was called to the sheriff's department's attention by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, according Murrieta police Lt. Ron Driscoll.

"Detectives from RSD received information from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department about a missing person from the Fallbrook area (San Diego County)," Driscoll said in a news release. "This person was believed to be somewhere in the area of Temecula/Murrieta, and RSD detectives were looking at several investigative leads to try and locate the subject."

The lieutenant did not disclose who was reported missing.

Once the investigation led authorities to the Moonbrook Lane address, they apparently noted some odd and suspicious circumstances "...that raised concern for the well-being of the occupants," the lieutenant said.

The investigators obtained a warrant to enter the property, proceeding with the help of Murrieta police personnel. The remains of the man and woman were immediately found, Driscoll said.

"Detectives served the warrant and located a 53-year old male and a 51-year-old female-both deceased from gunshot wounds in what is believed to be a murder/suicide," he said. "At this time there is no indication of any additional suspects."

It was unclear how long they had been dead.

Anyone with information relevant to the investigation was asked to contact Sgt. Spencer Parker at (951) 461-6364.

— City News Service contributed to this report / Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone