Spokesman: Husband suspected of pulling trigger; gun, suicide note near bodies
An out-of-state relative called the Sheriff's Office after being unable to reach an elderly marrid couple on the phone, leading to Tuesday night's discovery of an apparent murder-suicide in the home at 141 E. Woodhaven Circle.ORMOND BEACH -- The recovered bodies of a husband and wife, identified as 73-year-old James Ryals and 74-year-old Joyce Ryals, in their home near Ormond Beach are believed to victims of a murder-suicide with the husband pulling the trigger that killed his wife and then huimself, a Volusia County Sheriff's spokesman said of the overnight murder-suicide.
"Based on evidence at the scene, investigators believe that James Ryals killed his wife and then killed himself,"agency spokesman Gary Davidson said this morning, adding, "The Volusia County Medical Examiner's Office is scheduled to begin the autopsies at 9 a.m."
The Volusia County Sheriff's Office is investigating the discovery late Tuesday night of the bodies of the married couple found inside their residence at house at 141 E. Woodhaven Circle after a concerned relative in New Jersey asked deputies to check on the well-being of the couple
"The relative said she hadn't been able to get in contact with them," Davidson said. "Shortly after deputies arrived at the house at 11:48 p.m., they found the bodies of an adult man and woman inside a bathroom. Deputies also discovered a gun and note at the scene and are treating the deaths as a murder-suicide."
The Sheriff's Office's Major Case Unit is investigating the deaths. More information will be released as it becomes available.