Utica, NY: Utica man killed girlfriend in apparent murder-suicide, shot ex-girlfriend the day before

UTICA -- Utica Police have identified the two bodies found at 815 McVean Street in West Utica. Utica police Lt. Michael Zdanowicz, Criminal Investigation Division Commander, confirms that they were the bodies of 37-year-old Jerry McNair and his on-again, off-again girlfriend, 36-year-old Petra Gonzalez.

It appears to be a murder-suicide, according to police. Gonzalez was found in the bedroom with a gunshot wound to the back of the head, and McNair was found dead in the living room with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police think the girl who was strangled with a USB cord and shot in the back of the head on February 5^th was McNair’s current girlfriend, and may have found out about his relationship with Gonzalez.

The victim has not been identified, and is in critical but stable condition in a Utica hospital.

Utica Police searched for McNair for about 24 hours, eventually being told he was in the McVean Street home. They tried to reach McNair for hours, but never made contact.

The Emergency Response Team had to force their way into the home. That’s when they found Gonzalez and McNair.

Police think the handgun used in the murder-suicide may have been the same one used to shoot the previous victim who survived.