Couple Identified In Apparent Murder-Suicide In Marin County

SAN RAFAEL, CA – The Marin County coroner's office has identified the couple found dead Tuesday morning in their home in San Rafael. The husband and wife were identified as 91-year-old Laurel Doreen Bentley-Bearham and 73-year-old James Leonard Bearham.

Police received a call at 8:21 a.m. Tuesday from a man who said he shot his wife and was going to shoot himself at a residence in the 700 block of Penny Royal Lane in the Terra Linda neighborhood, San Rafael police Sgt. Lisa Holton said.

Police officers responded to the area and established a perimeter near the home. A crisis negotiation team tried to establish communication with anyone inside the residence before a regional SWAT team comprised of Novato and San Rafael police and the Marin County Sheriff's Office arrived, Holton said.

When the SWAT team did not make contact with the residents, a robot was sent inside the home, where police found the man and woman dead, Holton said. A firearm was also found inside the residence.

The cause and manner of death were pending the conclusion of the investigation by police and the coroner's office. Forensic post-mortem examinations have been scheduled for Wednesday.

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