Police Identify Man, Woman Found Dead In Murder-Suicide in Cherokee

CANTON, GA -- The man and woman found dead early Friday morning from an apparent murder-suicide inside a home just east of Waleska have been identified by the Cherokee Sheriff's Office.

Deputies were dispatched to conduct a welfare check around 8:26 a.m. July 7 at a home in the 200 block of Clay Wade Road, which is located off Fincher Road/S.R. 108 just east of Waleska.

When they arrived at the home, they located the woman, identified as 43-year-old Laura Pearson of Waleska, in the living room. A short time later, those deputies located the body of the male, Shawn Porter, 49, also of Waleska, inside the rear bedroom.

Sgt. Marianne Kelley said both victims appeared to have died from gunshot wounds.

"After further investigation it was determined that Pearson shot and killed Porter in the rear bedroom," she added. "Pearson then shot herself in the living room area of the home."

Both Porter and Pearson had been in a relationship for approximately one year, Sgt. Kelley states. A motive into the shooting has not yet been determined.

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