By By Shaun Hall
for the Mail Tribune
February 03, 2010 5:00 AM
MERLIN — A man shot and killed his estranged wife and then himself on Monday afternoon at their rural home south of Merlin, investigators believe.
Police identified the two as retired Seattle firefighter Ted T. Richardson, 59, and his wife, Susan C. Richardson, 52, a bank executive.
Susan Richardson was shot during an argument while a friend waited for her outside the home on North Pinnon Road, according to preliminary findings of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office.
Ted Richardson apparently shot himself just before deputies arrived.
On Friday, Ted Richardson had filed for a restraining order seeking exclusive use of the couple's upscale home on North Pinnon Road. Susan Richardson's attorney had objected, according to court filings.
In an affidavit, Ted Richardson said his wife had vacated the home, but had repeatedly returned against his wishes. The Sheriff's Office said the two had been separated for several months.
In August, Ted Richardson filed for divorce, according to Josephine County Circuit Court records.
At about 1 p.m. Monday, Susan Richardson went to the home to collect personal belongings, according to sheriff's Sgt. Ken Selig.
"As Susan's friend waited outside, an argument erupted between Susan and her estranged husband," Selig said. "Investigators believe Mr. Richardson shot Susan Richardson with a handgun he kept in the home. Mr. Richardson then turned the gun on himself just moments before deputies arrived."
Susan Richardson's friend called 9-1-1 when she heard the shots. The friend was not harmed.
After the shooting, Selig and Sheriff Gil Gilbertson strung yellow police tape across the home's gated driveway. Selig walked the grounds and took pictures.
Like the Richardson home, neighboring homes on North Pinnon Road seemed to be relatively new, built on large lots and gated. The road is off of Azalea Drive, about four miles west of Grants Pass.
Selig said detectives expect to work with the county medical examiner to certify cause and manner of death. He asked that anyone with information on the case call detectives at 541-474-5153.
The bodies of the Richardsons were taken to Hull and Hull Funeral Directors, but as of early today the funeral home had not been retained to handle funeral arrangements. According to court filings, the couple married 10 years ago near Seattle.
They had no children from their marriage, although both had children from previous marriages.
At the time of the couple's marriage, Ted Richardson already was retired from the Seattle Fire Department, and Susan Richardson was a senior vice president with Washington Mutual bank.
Her current employment could not be confirmed as of press time Tuesday.
Shaun Hall is a reporter for the Grants Pass Daily Courier. Reach him at shall@thedailycourier.com
1 comment:
Sue was one of my best friends. She only "vacated" the home to avoid violence. She was going back one last time to get items out of the home before Ted sold or destroyed them. Sue's attorney is just as guilty of murder as Ted was. Sue's attorney had advised her to go back to the home. I still have the text message from Sue stating this. There is a special place in hell for Ted Richardson.
Dana Fish
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