Double Shooting Possibly A Murder-Suicide

BETHANY, Okla. (AP) A man and woman found dead near their young child in a residence here may have been the victims of a murder-suicide, police said Saturday.<br/><br/>A police officer conducting a welfare

Saturday, March 24th 2007, 8:42 pm

By: News On 6

BETHANY, Okla. (AP) A man and woman found dead near their young child in a residence here may have been the victims of a murder-suicide, police said Saturday.

A police officer conducting a welfare check at a residence on N.W. 43rd Street found Scott Mentuis, 34, dead in the kitchen of the house about 11:20 a.m., police Chief Neal Troutman said. The officer discovered Rebecca Renae Bench, 28, in a bedroom with what appeared to be a 9 mm pistol nearby, police Chief Neal Troutman said.

A 16-month-old child -- the son of Mentuis and Bench, his ex-girlfriend -- was found in his crib unharmed, police said.

"We're not sure exactly yet what's going on," Troutman said.

A Bethany police dispatcher said Bench contacted relatives sometime before the shootings and asked them to come get the child, saying she hoped she hadn't hurt him, according to The Oklahoman.

Troutman said he didn't know what time the shooting occurred.

Luis Hernandez said he was working in his garden nearby when he heard four or five shots about 10 a.m. He said he didn't know where they came from, so he didn't call police.

"From what I've heard, I'm shocked. They seemed like good people," Hernandez said.

"When they walked out with that little kid, it was kind of sad. "I don't know what to say."