Death of Venice Couple Considered Murder-Suicide

VENICE, CA --An 86-year-old woman who reportedly had dementia and her husband were found dead today in their longtime Venice home in what authorities said was a murder-suicide.

Officers were sent to the 1000 block of East Palms Boulevard at 7:20 a.m., for a report of a suicide, Los Angeles police Officer Liliana Preciado said.

Officers found the body of an 83-year-old man with a gunshot wound, hanging from a tree in the backyard of his home, Preciado said. His wife was found shot dead inside of the home.

Investigators told reporters that workers doing construction next door to the couple's home discovered the man's body.

Preciado said upon inspection of the home, police found further indication of a suicide. Authorities believe the man shot himself after killing his wife, who was shot in the head.

A suicide note indicated the woman was suffering from dementia and severe pain, according to NBC4.

A neighbor told Channel 4 that the couple had lived in the area for more than 50 years and that the husband was resistant to putting his wife in a nursing home or hospital. She said they had no children and that a niece who lives out of state was notified of the deaths.

The names of the man and woman were not immediately released.

City News Service