Hudson Valley Couple Dead In Apparent Murder-Suicide

MOUNT HOPE, NY — An Orange County man shot his wife and then killed himself Wednesday in the town of Mount Hope, according to police officials.

The Town of Mount Hope Police Department said they were called to a home on Mount Hope Road around 10:20 a.m. Wednesday for a report of a possible burglary in progress.

Police said the caller identified himself as Russell Claybrook and claimed someone may have been inside his home.

When officers got to the location, they found a dead woman in a rear bedroom. She was identified as Marcia Reitman Currie, 70.

On the floor of the bedroom was James Russell Claybrook, 84. He was also dead.

Police said there were no signs of forced entry into the home nor was there any sign of a struggle.

Claybrook and Currie were married, and both suffered from medical issues, in which they appeared to be dealing with substantial pain, police said.

Based on physical evidence, numerous interviews and written documentation found inside the home, police determined their deaths were consistent with murder-suicide.

Authorities said Claybrook shot Currie while she was in bed and then killed himself with a gun.

He reported the burglary, police said, in order to increase the chance of a rapid police response to his home.

Police officials said the actions were contained inside the home. There were no other persons involved, and there was no threat to the public.