Elderly couple identified in Barrhaven murder-suicide

Ottawa police say the elderly couple found dead in their Barrhaven home early Tuesday morning died in a murder-suicide.

On Tuesday afternoon, police identified the couple as Kurt Theoret, 84, and Virginia Theoret, 82. A police spokesperson said Kurt Theoret shot his wife and called 911 before taking his own life.

Police said officers arrived at the home shortly after 1:00 a.m. where they found the bodies inside. 

Paramedics told CBC they were called to the residence around 1:05 a.m. and declared the man and woman dead at the scene.

Police said this is Ottawa's 12th homicide of the year.

The couple has owned the residence at 25 Pheasant Run Dr. since 1984 when they acquired the property for $134,000, according to property records.

The home is near the intersection of Cedarview and Fallowfield roads, about 17 kilometres southwest of downtown Ottawa.

Couple was 'just inseparable'

Sophie Hawkins, who lives next door to the home where the bodies were found, said she'd often see the elderly couple who lived there enjoying the sun with their garage door open. The man took good care of his garden and home and was often out mowing their front lawn, she said.

"They were always together, never apart. They did everything together," Hawkins said. "The only thing different I saw this week was I saw him leave in the car by himself. Usually they're just inseparable."

Hawkins said the woman used a cane and was not as mobile as the man.

She said she was awoken just after 1 a.m. by emergency crews on her street.

"There was at least 15 cop cars, two ambulances pulled in.... We saw officers all over the place," Hawkins said. "It's just very strange for this street because it's a very quiet neighborhood."

Deji Orija, who lives a few doors down and didn't know the homeowners well, said his wife saw a police vehicle parked outside their house this morning and found out what had happened from another neighbour.

"It's actually shocking because this is a very quiet neighborhood," Orija said. 

Hawkins said she, too, is in "absolute shock."

"I'm disturbed and my stomach hurts. I'm sad. I don't know what happened," she said.

Where to get help:

Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 1-833-456-4566 (Phone) | 45645 (Text, 4 p.m. to midnight ET only) crisisservicescanada.ca

In Quebec (French): Association québécoise de prévention du suicide: 1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553)

Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 (Phone), Live Chat counselling at www.kidshelpphone.ca

Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention: Find a 24-hour crisis centre