Bellevue, WI: Bellevue shootings were murder-suicide, police say

Bostwicks were due in divorce court on Friday afternoon

By Tony Walter and Mike Hoeft
twalter@greenbaypressgazette.com

BELLEVUE — A 48-year-old woman shot and killed her estranged husband Friday afternoon, then killed herself shortly afterwards in what Brown County Sheriff Department officials have called a murder-suicide.

Barbara Bostwick was found in her car within a few blocks of the parking lot where she reportedly fired several shots at Richard Bostwick, 34. The couple was scheduled to appear Friday afternoon in Brown County Circuit Court for a motion hearing in their divorce case.

The shooting occurred at 12:30 p.m. at the Emerald Park Villas. A search was launched for Barbara Bostwick, but it was called off later Friday afternoon when she was found in her parked car in the KI parking lot, just a few blocks from the scene of the shooting.

Richard Bostwick was transported to St. Vincent Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Barbara Bostwick was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and a .357-caliber handgun was found in her vehicle.

The shooting occurred in a parking lot outside 1305 Villa Park Circle, part of the Emerald Park Villas apartment complexes, where court records show Richard Bostwick lived.

Multiple shots were fired, according to Chief Deputy John Gossage of the Brown County Sheriff's Department, but it was unclear how many hit the victim

A few people who live in the area near Verlin Road and Bellevue Street reported hearing a series of pops.

"Kids play all over that area, and you don't assume anything bad," said Chelsea Tucker, who said she thought the sounds were firecrackers.