Murder-Suicide Suspected In Saratoga Couple's Death

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA -- Authorities with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office have identified an 87-year-old Saratoga woman who investigators believe was likely shot dead by her husband last week before he turned the gun on himself. The deaths of 87-year-old Doris Mae Sandie and her husband, 81-year-old Robert Sandie, in a home they shared in the 19000 block of state Highway 9 -- or Saratoga Los Gatos Road -- are being investigated as a murder-suicide, according to sheriff's Sgt. Reggie Cook.

Deputies found the couple deceased from gunshot wounds at about 9:30 a.m. Monday, July 17, after someone called authorities to report finding the bodies.

The Sandies had been married for 61 years.

Robert Sandie was born in Los Angeles and studied engineering, working for an aviation company, where he met his wife. He later went on to work at Shugart and Seagate and retired in 1997.

Doris Mae Sandie was born in Columbus, Ohio, and attended West Valley College in Saratoga. She co-authored a book with Jean Dickenson titled "Making a Move to Santa Clara County" and was a member of the Saratoga Book club and the Saratoga Gourmet Cooking Club.

The couple had three children together. A funeral is planned for Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Darling Fischer Chapel of the Hills, 615 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos.

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• Man Found Dead In Saratoga Home Identified
• 2 Found Shot To Death In Saratoga Home: Sheriff's Office

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Patch file photo/Renee Schiavone