Still No Motive In Couple's Deaths

Wednesday, December 26th 2007, 6:25 pm

By: News On 6

No motive, no suspects, and no closer. Thatâ€™s the word Wednesday from the Cherokee County Sheriffâ€™s Office regarding a double killing. The News On 6â€™s Steve Berg reports Jack and Elaine Denney were found dead in their home by their daughter on Christmas Day. Both were apparently killed by gunshot wounds.

It's hard for friends of Jack and Elaine Denney to imagine that anyone could be so callous.

"I just can't believe something like this happened. I mean it just floors me,â€ said neighbor Marc Copeland.

And it might be equally hard to find the people responsible.

"There's no clear-cut motive or clear-cut suspect at this time. But, the investigation is continuing,â€ said OSBIâ€™s Dennis Franchini.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation's Dennis Franchini says it appeared to investigators that Jack and Elaine were going about a routine day when they were killed, with food cooking on the stove for what could have been a holiday meal.

"Both on the floor, dead of apparent gunshot wounds. But, we don't have the medical examiner's report back yet,â€ added OSBIâ€™s Dennis Franchini.

He says there was no sign of a break-in or a struggle. Nothing appeared to be missing or stolen. The house is so far from a main road that investigators aren't inclined to think it's a random crime. But, they say there's no reason to think anyone would want to hurt the Denneys.

"Especially with the victims being a middle-aged family, didn't appear to be any family problems, didn't appear to be any financial problems. So it is a bit unusual,â€ said OSBIâ€™s Dennis Franchini.

In fact, neighbors told us numerous stories where the Denneys went out of the way to be nice to people with Elaine stitching handmade crafts for birthday presents and the couple loaning curtains and other items to help newcomers decorate their house.

"They're the nicest people I've ever been around,â€ said neighbor Marc Copeland. "I've known them ever since I was a little kid. They were just almost like family. They just took me in, my whole family. We kind of got together as one in a community out here."

The Denney's family told investigators they hadn't talked with the couple for about two days before they were found, so authorities say the deaths could have happened before Christmas Day.

Watch the video: Questions Remain About Couple Found Dead

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12/25/2007 Elderly Couple Found Shot To Death