Tulsa Couple Found Dead In Apparent Murder-Suicide

Two people are dead in what Tulsa police say appears to be a murder-suicide. Firefighters found a couple in their home near 17th and Sheridan during a welfare check around 12:30 p.m. Thursday, July 27. 

Police were called, and they lined the outside of the home with crime scene tape as they investigated the deaths.

From all accounts, it was unexpected. The couple leaves behind two kids.

Tulsa's 50th homicide of the has seasoned detectives feeling the loss.

"They were a quiet family that didn't come out much," said Detective James White, TPD. 

White said an employer of one of the victims came to the home that morning.

"One of the two hadn't shown up for work, and they were concerned because that was out of their character," he said.

No one answered, so the employer called 911. Firefighters found a woman and man in their 30s, both dead of apparent gun shots.

Authorities say there are no obvious signs of forced entry or a struggle inside, but they know two shots were fired. They say it appears the man shot his wife, then turned the gun on himself.

"We don't have any signs of forced entry into the residence, no signs that there was any type of foul play from possibility an intruder or anything like that," White said.

The last time anyone had contact with the couple was about a day ago. White said the marriage wasn't without problems.

"There were some issues between the two in the marriage," he said.

The detective couldn't say what the circumstances were that led to the shooting.

"Sometimes it's a spur of the moment decision, and it's an unfortunate one," said Tulsa Police Detective James White.

Names of the victims have not been released. Police say the couple has two kids that are out of town and don't know what happened.

"They're not aware of the situation at this point, and I don't want them to find out accidentally," White said.

White said both sides of the family are devastated, and he describes the situation as horrific for them and emergency responders.

"It's sad, it's just sad," he said. "This is one of those situations that could have been handled so many different ways."

None of the family members that were on scene were ready to speak.  The victims were taken to the Medical Examiner's Office for toxicology tests.  

Police are still going through phones and other evidence to try and determine a motive.