HENRY COUNTY, Va. – Three people were found dead inside a Henry County home on Thursday in what police are saying appears to be a murder-suicide.
Through the course of the investigation the deceased individuals have been identified as 57-year-old Larry John Cassell, 64-year-old Linda Cassell and 90-year-old Lois Irene Cassell.
The cause of death for Linda and Lois has been ruled homicide, while Larry’s cause of death has been ruled a suicide.
Authorities say they received a call around 7:45 p.m. for a wellbeing check on Venna Ave.
When deputies arrived at the home, they say they were not able to get in touch with anyone inside. At the request of the family members, deputies went into the home and found two man and a woman dead with gunshot wounds.
Henry County Sheriff Lane Perry said a gun was found in the home, but he was unsure if it belonged to one of the three victims.
Deputies have responded to the home before, according to Perry, but how many times was unclear Friday.
“It’s kind of hard to explain, but we’re looking at that being one of the reasons for what did happen there,” Perry said when asked what the previous calls to the home were about.
“There were some stressors, or some considerations, within the home with the people that lived there that may have resulted in this,” said Perry. “The other indicators of something of a robbery or things like that, those indicators aren’t there.”
Perry estimates the bodies may have been in the home for 24 hours before they were found.
A neighbor, who did not want to be identified, said she is saddened but not shocked.
“I knew there were circumstances, that it could happen. It just really upset me that it did happen,” the neighbor said. “I knew (one of the men) was having troubles with his medicines.”
The neighbor described the victims as nice people and great neighbors.
According to the sheriff’s office, all three bodies were taken to the medical examiner’s office for autopsies to determine their identities as well as the manner and cause of death. Their identities will be released once they are verified by the medical examiner.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at 276-638-8751 or Crimestoppers at 63-CRIME (632-7463). The Crimestoppers Program offers rewards up to $2,500 for information.