EMERY COUNTY, Utah — An Orangeville man suspected of killing his wife last month was found dead from a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound Monday.
Kristi Maxwell, 47, was found dead on July 17 when Emery County Sheriff’s deputies responded to her home for a welfare check, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.
Maxwell’s daughter called dispatch just before 9 p.m. stating she hadn’t heard from her mother all day. The responding deputy was unable to make contact with anyone at the residence.
“The daughter stated then that she was on her way to the residence and asked if a deputy could be present when she and other family members entered the house,” the release states.
When family members arrived with a key, a deputy escorted them into the home. Inside they found Kristi Maxwell’s husband, Richard, 55, pointing a gun to his body, according to the release.
As the deputy escorted the family members out of the house, the release states, Richard Maxwell fired one shot.
Additional law enforcement arrived at the home and tried to talk Richard Maxwell into exiting the home. Eventually, authorities say, they made forced entry and found the 55-year-old with a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound to the torso.
He was taken to an area hospital for treatment.
During a search of the home, the release states, the body of Kristi Maxwell was found and appeared to have been dead for several hours.
On Monday, dispatch received a welfare check to the residence where Richard Maxwell had been staying since his release from the hospital about four days ago.
At the scene, deputies found Richard Maxwell dead with a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Richard Maxwell was the only person of interest in the death of his wife.
