Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Manzanita, OR: Sheriff: murder-suicide in Ore. coast deaths

MANZANITA, Ore. (AP) -- The Tillamook County sheriff says a Portland State University program director and his wife died in an apparent murder-suicide. They were found dead in their Manzanita cottage on the north Oregon coast.

Sheriff Todd Anderson said Monday that 55-year-old Astrid Schlaps died of a single shot from a handgun. The sheriff says 56-year-old Richard Hunter then apparently shot himself. Hunter directed the Child Welfare Partnership at PSU.

Manzanita City Manager Jerald Taylor says a major crimes team with officers from the county, local cities and Oregon State Police is working on the case. Authorities tell The Oregonian no note was found and they have no immediate explanation for what might have led to the deaths.

Anderson says it appears the woman had just returned from the grocery store when she was killed. The bodies were found Friday.

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