Phoenix, AZ: Phoenix police: Man shot and killed wife, son and dog before killing self

Phoenix police on Friday released the identities of the three people found dead in a home in Phoenix.

Richard Schmalenbach, 81, is believed to have shot and killed his wife Mary Schmalenbach, 79, and his son, Tom Schmalenbach, 50, before turning the gun on himself in the home near 35th Avenue and Las Palmaritas Drive, a police report said.

Police responded to calls about 2:30 p.m. Thursday when neighbors said they had not seen or heard from the residents of the home in a few days and one neighbor said she saw a man that was apparently dead in the backyard, Phoenix police spokesman Sgt. Steve Martos said.

When police officers arrived, they found Tom Schmalenbach's body in a chair on the back patio and the bodies of Mary and Richard Schmalenbach, Martos said. Police also believe Schmalenbach killed the family's dog, which was found inside the home.

Neighbors reported that they heard gunshots coming from the home last Saturday but did not contact police until Thursday, Martos said.

Details of the incident are still under investigation.