The couple left behind a note indicating that one or both of them were sick. Police say that was the reason behind the deaths. They also say Norman Davis called 9-1-1 to alert officers on what was about to happen.
Inside their Visalia home, officers found 77-year-olds Norman and Carol Davis shot dead in their bathroom Sunday. Officers went to the residence just after 11 a.m. after a 9-1-1 call came from inside the house.
"It was a male caller, he indicated murder, suicide, he verified the address he was at-while on the phone, dispatchers were able to hear a gunshot in the background-and the phone went silent at that point," Paul Esquibel with the Visalia Police Department.
Detectives say the couple lived alone and believe it was Norman Davis that made that call. Police also found a handwritten note inside the couple's home. It was a note left behind for family members, explaining a motive.
"There was a note that was left behind, that was found with the victims, indicating it was due to health issues," Esquibel said.
Neighbors said that the couple had lived on the block for several years. Nicole Mell lives across the street from the couple, and though she didn't know them by name she remembers seeing the man leave his house to get his mail, usually in a motorized cart.
"It's very sad-very, very sad. I can't imagine anybody thinking their lives were to the point where they needed to do that," Mell said.
Many neighbors said they did not know anything about the couple's health. They said aside from the needing a motorized cart, they thought the couple was in good health.
