August 29, 2010 8:37 AM
LINDELL KAY and MIKE MCHUGH
Updated at 2:51 p.m. to include additional information
MAYSVILLE — A neighbor’s grim discovery of a murder-suicide Saturday night shattered the usual serenity of a tight-knit White Oak River Road community.
Peter Terrance Moonan, 62, shot 63-year-old Karen Ann Rooney twice in the upper torso and then shot himself in the head at around 6 p.m., authorities said.
They had been a couple for the past 16 years. They purchased 1689 White Oak River Road together in 2002, according to Onslow County Tax Office records.
They split up in February. She remained in their home and he moved in with family in Carteret County. There is no record of any past domestic problems between them, said Onslow County Sheriff’s Maj. Donnie Worrell.
A Facebook profile registered to Rooney recently announced her intention to marry another man.
A neighbor, Velda Bynum said Moonan and Rooney fit in well in their small community.
“Rooney was very good to my grandchildren,” Bynum said.
One of Bynum’s grandsons went to Rooney’s residence to introduce his new wife to Rooney when through the back door he saw Moonan sitting in a chair, covered in blood. He first thought Moonan had an accident and called 911, but quickly realized what had happened.
“He didn’t see Karen,” Robert Bynum said of his son. “Thank God.”
Rooney was shot while she lay on a love seat, authorities said, adding that autopsies were expected today.
The Bynum family, who live across the road from where Rooney did, sat under their carport Sunday morning reflecting about Saturday evening’s events and the years they had known Rooney.
They said neighbors on their stretch of White Oak River Road look out for one another as well as each other’s pets. Robert Bynum said it was not unusual for Rooney to have dog food on hand just in case a neighbor’s animal came around.
Velda Bynum said Rooney was “a loving, caring person who loved the beach and gardening.”
Rooney’s home is landscaped with conk shells, solar lights and a large vegetable garden. A screened porch looks out over a sylvan backyard.
“A family member of Mr. Moonan told investigator’s that Mr. Moonan had been depressed lately, but had not displayed any signs that they felt he could have been a danger to anyone,” Worrell said.
Moonan’s brother, Peletier resident Jim Moonan, said his brother was a basically a good guy.
“I know he helped his neighbors out a lot when they needed it,” he said.
After Bynum’s grandson called 911, investigators arrived and stayed through the night processing the scene. A lone blue latex glove balled up in the gravel driveway and gurney drag marks were evidence visible outside the home that a crime had occurred. Moonan’s white Volkswagen and Rooney’s gray Saturn were parked side-by-side along the edge of the driveway.
The yellow porch bulb remained illuminated.
Updated at 1:03 p.m.
Deputies responded to 1689 White Oak River Rd. at 6:05 p.m. Saturday in reference to the shooting, according to a press release from the Onslow County Sheriff's Office.
There, they found Karen Ann Rooney, 63, and Peter Terrance Moonan, 62, dead in the residence.
Rooney was shot twice in the upper torso while she lay on a love seat, according to the release. Moonan then shot himself in the head.
Authorities say Rooney and Moonan were a couple for 16 years until February 2010.
Rooney remained at the residence while Moonan resided with family in Carteret County.
One of Moonan's family members told investigator's that he had been depressed lately, but had not displayed any signs that they felt he could have been a danger to anyone.
The Sheriff's Office has no record of any past domestic problems between the two. Autopsies were scheduled for today.
Updated at 12:57 p.m.
MAYSVILLE — A neighbor’s grim discovery of a murder-suicide Saturday night shattered the usual serenity of a tight-knit White Oak River Road community.
A man whose family said he had been depressed drove to the home he owned with a woman he lived with more than a decade but was recently estranged, killed her then took his own life, said Onslow County Sheriff’s Maj. Donnie Worrell.
Neighbors identified the man and woman as Peter Terrance Moonan and Karen Ann Rooney. The couple purchased 1689 White Oak River Road together in 2002, according to Onslow County Tax Office records.
Moonan moved out about a year ago, a neighbor said.
Velda Bynum said Moonan and Rooney had been good neighbors.
“Rooney was very good to my grandchildren,” Bynum said.
One of Bynum’s grandsons went to Rooney’s residence to introduce his new wife to Rooney when through the back door he saw Moonan sitting in a chair, covered in blood. He first thought Moonan had an accident and called 911, but quickly realized what had happened.
“He didn’t see Karen,” Robert Bynum said of his son. “Thank God.”
The Bynum family, who live across the road from where Rooney did, sat under their carport Sunday morning reflecting about Saturday evening’s events and the four years they had known Rooney.
They said neighbors on their stretch of White Oak River Road look out for one another as well as each other’s pets, the Bynums said. Robert Bynum said it was not unusual for Rooney to have dog food on hand just in case a neighbor’s animal came around.
Velda Bynum said Rooney was “a loving, caring person who loved the beach and gardening.”
Rooney’s home is landscaped with conk shells, solar lights and a large vegetable garden. A screened porch looks out over a sylvan backyard.
Moonan’s brother, Peletier resident Jim Moonan, said his brother was a basically a good guy.
“I know he helped his neighbors out a lot when they needed it,” he said.
After Bynum’s grandson called 911, investigators arrived and stayed through the night processing the scene. A lone blue latex glove balled up in the gravel driveway and gurney drag marks were evidence visible outside the home that a crime had occurred. Moonan’s white Volkswagen and Rooney’s gray Saturn were parked side-by-side along the edge of the driveway.
The yellow porch bulb remained illuminated.
Updated at 12:05 p.m.
Neighbors helped identify the couple as Peter Terrance Moonan and Karen Ann Rooney, who owned the home at 1689 White Oak River Road together, according to Onslow County Tax Office records.
Update at 10:30 a.m.
The homicide-suicide was discovered by a neighbor who brought his new wife to meet the woman who was killed.
Neighbors described the woman as "loving, caring, concerned and she loved the beach."
Neighbors also said the couple were not together for nearly a year, prior to the incident.
Updated at 9:40 a.m.
Investigators say the man and woman dead after Saturday night's homicide-suicide are not legally married. The couple was together for 16 years.
The Onslow County Sheriff's Office is investigating a homicide-suicide on White Oak River Road late Saturday night.
Authorities say a man killed his estranged partner and himself.
Investigators have not released names of the couple pending next-of-kin notification, Maj. Donnie Worrell said.
Further details are not yet being released. Stay with jdnews.com for more information on this developing story.
No comments:
Post a Comment