Posted: May 10, 2010 10:55 PM EDT
Updated: May 10, 2010 11:03 PM EDT
FORT MYERS BEACH: An elderly man, visiting his sick wife at Winter Haven Hospital, reportedly shot her to death and then turned the gun on himself. That couple lived on Fort Myers Beach for more than a decade and NBC2 spoke to neighbors who knew them well.
Officials in Winter Haven said after hearing shots, hospital workers in the medical surgery unit arrived to find the couple dead.
A hospital administrator said they were on a floor where recovery rooms for surgeries are located and it's believed the wife had a stroke about a month ago.
The couple lived off San Carlos Blvd in Fort Myers beach for more than 10 years. Neighbors say they were always happy, laughing, and glad to be together.
"I thought that maybe it was some other Duckworth. Couldn't have been those two," said former Fort Myers Beach neighbor Betty Pryor.
Residents in Indian Creek say the Duckworths lived in three different homes in that community.
About a year ago, they moved away to be closer to their sons in winter haven. Since then, Pryor has kept in touch with the Duckworths on Facebook.
Recently, she says, the updates were about Patricia Duckworth's health.
"'Please keep her in your prayers.' 'Dad said she was doing better yesterday,'" Pryor said.
She was hospitalized in Winter Haven's medical surgery wing for a bad fever and fluid around her heart. And Ray Duckworth was constantly by her side at the hospital.
Pryor said the latest Facebook update from the Duckworth's son was Saturday and hinted that she was sounding better,
But Monday afternoon, the tragic scene unfolded when the elderly couple was found dead in Patricia's hospital room.
In an apparent murder suicide, it's believed Ray took Patricia's life then turned the gun on himself.
Winter Haven police are still investigating the shooting.
By Sarah Hollenbeck
No comments:
Post a Comment