Husband kills wife, then himself March 13, 2009
Original:
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stcharles/story/617C34B921108547862575AE0063B5CE?OpenDocument
ST. CHARLES COUNTY - The deaths of a married couple found shot in March inside their home was a murder-suicide, authorities said today.
According to the St. Charles County medical examiner's office, Michael Costello, 53, shot his wife, Joyce Costello, 36, before shooting himself March 13 inside their home near St. Peters.
Both had gunshot wounds to their heads, authorities said. Neighbors found the bodies inside the Costello home on Carpenter Drive. They found Michael Costello slumped by the front door and Joyce, lying on the couch, covered up to her neck with a blanket.
St. Charles County Medical Examiner Dr. Mary Case said crime scene evidence supported her conclusion, but she would not elaborate.
Investigators have described their deaths as a case of domestic violence and that no third party was involved.
Michael Costello lost his job with a roof truss company within the past two years, neighbors have said.
Joyce Costello had been in a custody fight with her ex-husband over a teenage child. She was also the subject of several restraining orders by Michael Costello's ex-wife.
Joyce Costello was a 1990 graduate of St. Charles West High School and had worked at a nearby AutoZone.
