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Murder/suicide claimed lives of elderly men in SLC

Posted at 10:49 PM, Jan 07, 2013
and last updated 2013-01-08 00:49:59-05

SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City police said it was a murder/suicide that claimed the lives of two elderly men who were found dead in their Salt Lake City home Friday morning.

The couple lived at 1011 South and 400 East. Neighbors say the two had lived in the home for more than 20 years and the news of their deaths was quite a shock.

“They were just a really quiet couple,” says neighbor Maren MacMurray. “Very kind. They just basically took care of each other.”

Neighbors say both had been sick. A hospice worker checked on the two men earlier in the week, but asked police to make a welfare check when contact could not be made Friday morning.

Police forced their way into the home and found the two men dead. It’s unclear how long the two had been there.

“The couple that lives next door had talked to one of them just a couple days before,” MacMurray said. “They said there wasn’t any indication that something like this could happen, so it’s is surprising.”

The state medical examiner will conduct autopsies to determine the exact cause of death. Neighbors say even though they knew the elderly men were ill, it’s still a shock.

“Just sadness, and just was there something anyone of us could have done as neighbors,” says MacMurray. “It just makes you think.”

Police did not immediately release the names of the two men, saying they were still trying to notify family of their passing.