Tuesday, January 17, 2012

York, PA: Police: Husband, wife dead in Windsor Township murder-suicide

A Windsor Township couple was found dead in the 900 block of Snyder Corner Road Tuesday after the husband shot his wife and then took his own life, according to York Area Regional Police.
The York County Coroner's Office said Gary Douglas Knaub, 55, shot himself in the head after shooting his wife, Karen Sue Knaub, 57, in the head.
Police cruisers lined the street Tuesday afternoon as investigators searched the home that sits on a quiet road surrounded by a wooded area.
York County 911 received a call at 2:17 p.m. when Gary Knaub said he shot Karen Knaub earlier in the day and was going to take his own life, said York County Chief Deputy Coroner Claude Stabley.
When police arrived, they found Karen Knaub dead inside the home,

Emergency vehicles responded to the 900 block of Snyder Corner Road In Windsor Township where, officials said, a man shot and killed his wife, then took his own life Tuesday. (DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS - KATE PENN)
said Officer Peter Montgomery, spokesman for York Area Regional Police.
Officers secured the home and during their search of the property, Montgomery said, they found Gary Knaub in a field behind the home.
Stabley added that Karen Knaub was believed to be suffering from a terminal illness, although he did not elaborate.
It's the third murder case police have responded to in this area in recent years. In 2002, Stacey John Farmer, a potential witness in the disappearance and murder of Hopethan Johnson, was found dead in the driveway of his home in the 800 block of Snyder Corner Road.
Farmer's death was not linked to Johnson's - who died earlier that year - other than the fact that they were both killed on Farmer's property, officials have said.
Previous murders
Police found Stacey John Farmer, a potential witness in the disappearance and murder of Hopethan Johnson, dead in the driveway of his Windsor Township home in June 2002.
Farmer, 33, died of a single gunshot wound to the head, York County Coroner Barry Bloss said at the time.
That is the same property where police believe Johnson was murdered the month. Johnson's body was recovered later in Chanceford Township. Read more about that story here.
Farmer faced charges of hindering apprehension, prosecution and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence in connection with Johnson's disappearance. Police allege Farmer lied to an officer when he showed up to investigate a complaint about shots being fired in the area. Farmer told the officer that he didn't hear anything.
Farmer later provided information to police about Johnson's disappearance and said Duane Lee Frey, 33, of Windsor Township shot Johnson. Police charged Frey with criminal homicide, and he remains in York County Prison without bail.
Defense attorney Jeffrey Conrad sought a new trial for Duane Lee Frey in April 2011, but both the trial verdict and sentence were affirmed. Frey is seeking a second appeal. Read more on a court proceeding from 2011.
Police have yet to solve Farmer's murder.

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