Oklahoma City, OK: Couple who both taught at Mid-Del schools found dead

A married southeast Oklahoma City couple who both taught at Midwest City-Del City Schools were found dead in their home Thursday morning in what police are calling a murder-suicide.

Jose Manuel Lopez, 62, and Katherine Lopez, 54, were found dead inside their home at 5119 Eden Drive about 8:30 a.m., police Sgt. Jennifer Wardlow said.

Katherine Lopez, a teacher at Del City High School, filed for divorce from Jose Lopez, a Kerr Middle School teacher, on Aug. 25, according to court records.

No information was immediately released on cause of death.

Wardlow said police were asked to do a welfare check when the two didn't show up for work Thursday morning.

Police said it appears Jose Lopez, who went by “Joe,” killed himself after taking his wife's life.

Katherine Lopez's divorce petition said “a state of complete and irreconcilable incompatibility has arisen between the parties” which has destroyed the marriage. Her attorney declined to comment Thursday. Joe Lopez had not hired an attorney in the case, according to court records.

Neighbors said the couple has lived in the house for more than 20 years.

Midwest City-Del City District spokeswoman Stacey Boyer said Joe Lopez was a teacher at Kerr Middle School and worked in the district for five years. She said Katherine Lopez worked at Del City High School and has worked in the district for the last seven years.

Neighbor Donna Adams, 43, said her daughter was one of Joe Lopez's students.

“It was a shock. I was surprised,” she said. “I think they were wonderful people.”

Margaret Dickinson is another neighbor who said she has known the couple for years. She said they moved into their house in 1988 and met Joe Lopez, his wife and their children.

Early this morning, Dickinson said her husband noticed they hadn't left for work.

“My husband said, ‘Joe and his wife haven't gone to work. I wonder if they're taking a long holiday,'” Dickinson said.

When police arrived, she said she was worried something had happened to the couple.

“They're really nice people,” she said. “I can't believe it.”