GARDINER — A La Center couple who had been married more than 50 years died late Wednesday night in an apparent murder-suicide near Discovery Bay.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office was summoned to clear the scene after medics from East Jefferson Fire-Rescue were notified of a 9-1-1 emergency call from Evelyn Carroll, 70.
The call came in about 10:30 p.m., said Sheriff Tony Hernandez.
“A distraught female said she murdered her husband and was going to shoot herself,” Hernandez said.
Deputies were there in eight minutes and, after receiving no response to their knock and calls, kicked in the door of the time share condominium at 194 Orcas Drive, off U.S. Highway 101 near Gardiner.
They found the husband, Leron Carroll, 74, lying on the bed with a gunshot wound to his torso, his wife on the floor with a similar wound, and a .38 caliber gun.
There were no signs of a struggle.
Both were still alive and talking, said Hernandez, who declined to provide details of what they said.
Both died as they were being transported to a hospital.
Relatives have been notified, and deputies have learned that Leron Carroll, a retired logger, was dying of liver cancer, said Chief Criminal Deputy Joe Nole.
Since inclement weather prohibited helicopter flights near the scene in Jefferson County, the husband and wife were put into separate aid cars from East Jefferson and Discovery Bay fire departments and were heading toward the Hood Canal Bridge for transport from Kitsap County.
They died en route before reaching the bridge, said East Jefferson Fire Chief Gordon Pomeroy.
The couple had been staying since Dec. 13 in Unit 15 of the WorldMark timeshare condos.
Hernandez said neighbors were questioned and that no one had heard any disturbance from the unit, nor were they familiar with the couple. There were no signs of alcohol or illegal drug abuse, Nole said.
The couple had three grown children, and relatives arrived Thursday to make arrangements.
An autopsy is scheduled for today.
Deputies continued processing evidence at the condo Thursday.
________
Julie McCormick is a freelance writer and photographer living in Port Townsend. Phone her at 360-385-4645 or e-mail juliemccormick10@gmail.com.
