Skip to content

Forgot To Think

Interesting Stories From All Over The World

Menu
  • About Us
  • DMCA/Removal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Submit Content
Menu
murder suicide elderly couple

Elderly Washington Couple Found Dead In Murder-Suicide Over Angst About Medical Expenses

Posted on August 13, 2019August 13, 2019 by Lovely G

An elderly man in Washington is suspected of fatally shooting his wife before killing himself because they could not afford to pay her high medical bills.

The couple has been identified as Brian Jones, 77, and Patricia Whitney-Jones, 76, reported the Lynden Tribune.

According to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Jones called 911 around 8.23am on Wednesday and told the dispatcher: ‘I am going to shoot myself.’

He said he had left a note for the Sheriff with information and instructions, a press release stated.

The dispatcher tried to keep Jones on the phone, but he eventually hung up, with his last words being: ‘We will be in the front bedroom.’  

murder suicide elderly couple
Brian Jones, 77, of Ferndale, Washington, called 911 at 8.23am on Wednesday saying he was going to shoot himself. Pictured: Jones, right, with his wife in San Diego, California, in 2007
murder suicide elderly couple
When deputies arrived at the house, they found Jones (right) dead from a gunshot wound to the head next to his wife, Patricia Whitney-Jones, 76 (left). Jones’s gunshot wound was apparently self-inflicted but not Whitney-Jones’s

When deputies arrived at the home on the 6500 blocks of Timmeran Lane in Ferndale about 15 minutes later, they set up a perimeter in case of an ‘active shooter’.

A crisis negotiator tried contacting Jones using a telephone and a megaphone for nearly an hour, but to no avail.

That’s when deputies deployed a robot-mounted camera to search the house and found Jones dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

His body was lying next to the body of Whitney-Jones, also found dead from a gunshot wound.

The Sheriff’s Office told the Lynden Tribune that the next of kin have been notified and that the case is being investigated as a murder-suicide. 

According to a press release, there were several notes in the home discussing the couple having trouble paying for Whitney-Jones’s medical bills.

‘[The notes cited] severe ongoing medical problems with the wife and expressing concerns that the couple did not have sufficient resources to pay for medical care,’ the press release read.

On Whitney-Jones’s Facebook page, she states that she is disabled, but her exact medical issues and the care she needed remain unclear.

The couple’s neighbor, Sherrie Schulteis, told the Lynden Tribune that she is ‘dumbfounded’ by the couple’s deaths. 

‘[The husband and I] were always waving and talking about our yards or our flowers,’ Schulteis told the newspaper.

‘It’s a little tiny community where we all know each other, but we don’t really know each other.’

murder suicide elderly couple
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office is treating the case as a murder-suicide. Pictured: Whitney-Jones, left, and Jones, undated
murder suicide elderly couple
Notes were found in the house describing Whitney-Jones’s medical issues and stating the couple could not pay for her care. Pictured: Jones, left, and Whitney-Jones in San Diego, California, in 1984

Whitney-Jones also describes herself as a retired Navy wife, but it’s not clear when her husband served.

‘It is very tragic that one of our senior citizens would find himself in such desperate circumstances where he felt murder and suicide were the only options,’ said Sheriff Bill Elfo in a statement. ‘Help is always available with a call to 911.’ 

Two dogs found in the home were turned over to the Humane Society while several firearms also discovered were impounded.  

The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately reply to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.  

If you know someone who might like this, please click “Share”!

©2023 Forgot To Think | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT