Police Investigate Apparent Homicide-Suicide

Woman's Death Is McFarland's First Slaying In More Than 30 Years

Updated: 7:40 pm CDT July 15, 2009

MCFARLAND, Wis. -- McFarland and Madison police are investigating the death of an estranged husband and wife Tuesday night as a homicide-suicide.

Around 5 p.m. Tuesday, Madison police were called to an apartment complex in the 1100 block of Moorland Road on a report of a gunshot. Officers found Robert Beaulieu, 61, of Madison, with a gunshot wound. He died at a local hospital.

The Dane County coroner said preliminary autopsy findings indicate that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Then at about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, McFarland police made a welfare check on a woman at an apartment on Lexington Street who couldn't be contacted. Police found Shereen Beaulieu, 51, dead of a gunshot wound, and the death is being investigated as a homicide.

The welfare check was a result of police trying to notify Shereen Beaulieu that her estranged husband fatally shot himself at his Madison apartment.

"Our preliminary investigation in McFarland indicates that this was likely a homicide-suicide type case, and it is still under investigation," said McFarland Police Chief Gregory Leck.

The McFarland community is in shock over its first slaying in years.

"I was sleeping and we had a knock on the door at 11:30 (p.m.)," said neighbor Katy Olson. "We answered it and it was a police officer asking questions and saying someone next door passed away."

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Olson didn't know her neighbor, Shereen Beaulieu, whose apartment is now marked with evidence tape.

"It was hard to fall back asleep because you were wondering what happened and felt bad for whose family it was, and you just didn't know," said Olson.

Court records indicate that Shereen Beaulieu had filed for divorce from Robert Beaulieu in June. His apartment manager said they'd been living separately for a while but seemed to be amicable.

The slaying is McFarland's first in more than 30 years.

"The irony of this is the last homicide to have occurred in the village, which is well into the early 70s, was a result of a homicide-suicide domestic relationship as well," said Leck.

But the incident has still shaken neighbors.

"It's terrible. It doesn't make me any less safe here, but the fact that a lady got killed over here, it's a little chilling," said Kelly Walker, an apartment building resident.

"I definitely have always felt very safe here and McFarland is a beautiful area and I've really enjoyed living here, so it's a shock that something happened," said Olson.

The Nob Hill apartment manager said she spoke with Robert Beaulieu Tuesday morning and he seemed in good spirits. She's among many who are shocked by the deaths.