Woman killed in apparent murder-suicide involving husband in Merced, police say

MERCED, Calif. (KFSN) -- Merced Police were called for a welfare check Thursday evening in the 2400 block of White Fir Court after the woman who lived in the quiet neighborhood did not pick up her child from school.

"The more the mother is normally the one that picks him up, the child contacted a family friend, who then took the child to the residence," said Investigation Sergeant with Merced Police Department Kalvin Haygood.

That family friend and child then reached out to police after they couldn't reach either of the parents.

"The police officers were the only ones to enter the residence, which is when they found a woman deceased inside," explained Haygood.

Detectives say the 51-year-old victim had visible injuries. They began searching for her 54-year-old husband and soon learned he was hit and killed by a train about 11 miles southeast of the couple's home near Le Grand.

Police believe the man took his own life after murdering his wife. Neighbors we spoke with in the quiet cul de sac were shocked and saddened by the tragic news.

"We did have our run-ins with the family, our hellos our goodbyes, a little bit of chit chat so it is kind of heartbreaking," said neighbor Jessica Angeles.

Another neighbor who did not want to speak on camera says they saw the father drive off with his teenage son in the morning in a red car, and that car never returned.

"It's a terrible situation, I hate to see any child go without a parent. Now we're in the process of helping family members get in contact with this child so he can be returned safely to other family members," said Haygood.

Investigators are still working on piecing together a timeline of when the woman was killed.

They are also working to notify other family members before releasing the couple's identities.

Anyone with more information is asked to contact Merced police.

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