Published Thursday, July 23, 2009
McCOMB (AP) — A Centreville man shot and killed his estranged wife at a hotel before killing himself in what investigators believe is a murder-suicide, police said Thursday.
Police Chief Greg Martin said the bodies of Michael Smith, 42, and Kathy Smith, 39, of St. Francisville, La., were found about 12:30 a.m. Thursday in the restroom near the lobby of the National Inn.
Pike County Coroner Percy Pittman pronounced them dead at the scene from gunshot wounds.
Martin said Smith kidnapped his wife from St. Francisville and brought her to McComb.
The West Feliciana Parish, La., Sheriff's Office got a cell phone call Tuesday night from Kathy Smith, Martin said. She claimed she was being kidnapped after leaving the restaurant where she worked on U.S. Highway 61 between St. Francisville and Woodville, Miss.
Authorities believe Michael Smith forced Kathy Smith's car off the road, got her out of the car and drove to McComb, where they checked into the motel Wednesday, Martin said.
Martin said Kathy Smith managed to get out of the room Wednesday night and ran into the lobby yelling for help.
"She was telling the clerk that she needed help — she had been kidnapped. We have two witnesses who were in the parking lot who heard her screaming," Martin said.
Martin said the motel staff called police. He said witnesses told investigators that Michael Smith entered the lobby as police officers were arriving. When Kathy Smith ran to the restroom, Michael Smith followed and shot her before turning the gun on himself.
Martin said the couple had been separated for some time and were in the process of getting a divorce. He said Michael Smith had recently been released from jail after serving time for felony malicious mischief.
Martin said the incident was being investigated by police and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
No comments:
Post a Comment