Friday, April 15, 2011

Davie, FL: Elderly pair found dead inside Davie mobile home in what police are calling a murder-suicide

— The 911 call came in around 7 a.m.: A family friend looking in the window of a residence at the Park City Estates mobile home community saw what appeared to be a body lying on the floor.

Inside the home, Davie police discovered the bodies of Kurt Schnitzler, 80, and Lucia Schnitzler, 81. Investigators don't know how long the pair had been dead at the residence in the 8300 block of Southwest 21st Street.

"All indications appear that it was a murder-suicide," Davie Police Sgt. Rob Choquette said on Thursday morning. Investigators have not yet said who may have killed whom, or described any motive.

Neighbor Al Berte, who has lived two homes away from the couple for about seven years, said they suffered from health issues and had mounting medical bills. He said the man had severe back problems and the woman, who was in a wheelchair, had a heart condition.

"They were quiet people, he took care of his property, he took care of his wife…he just had enough," Berte said. "You could almost tell it was an issue, it was wearing on him."

Longtime resident Barbara Tilley said she was shocked to hear on TV about a crime scene in her usually quiet neighborhood.

"I thought it had to be another area, it couldn't be Park City," she said. "It just blows my mind. Nothing ever happens here."

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