Husband, wife dead after murder-suicide in Ferndale

FERNDALE, Wash. — Law enforcement were dispatched to a residence in the 6500 block of Timmerman Lane in Ferndale this morning, August 7th, after receiving a 9-1-1 call from a man reporting to be inside the residence who said law enforcement would find his and his wife’s bodies inside.

Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo issued the following press release today explaining the incident.

At 0823 hours this morning deputies responded to the 6500 block of Timmerman Lane near Ferndale after a 77 year old man telephoned 9-1-1 and told the dispatcher: ““I am going to shoot myself”.  He indicated he had prepared a note for the Sheriff with information and instructions.  The dispatcher attempted to keep the caller on the line without success.  The man disconnected the call after saying “We will be in the front bedroom.”  Deputies arrived at approx. 0838 hours and set up a perimeter around the house.  A crisis negotiator attempted to contact occupants of the home via phone and loud hailer for about 1 hour.  After an hour, Deputies deployed a robot mounted camera.  The man was found deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.  He was lying next to his wife, age 76, who was also deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. 
 
Sheriff’s Office detectives and crime scene investigators are investigating the case as a likely murder/suicide.  Several notes were left citing severe ongoing medical problems with the wife and expressing concerns that the couple did not have sufficient resources to pay for medical care.  Next of kin information was left in a note and Detectives are working with out of state law enforcement to notify the next of kin.  Pending this notification, the identity of the decedents is not being released.
 
Two dogs found within the residence were taken into the custody and turned over to the Humane Society for care.  Numerous firearms were impounded for safekeeping. 
 
Sheriff Elfo said:  “It is very tragic that one of our senior citizens would find himself in such desperate circumstances where he felt murder and suicide were the only option. Help is always available with a call to 9-1-1.”