Nemacolin deaths ruled murder-suicide
State troopers walk around a home at 240 March Ave., Nemacolin, after a couple were found dead inside Thursday.
Louis and Mary Sue Drotos
The Nemacolin couple found dead in their home last week both died of gunshot wounds in what investigators say was a murder-suicide.
Mary Sue Drotos and Louis Drotos, both 67, were found dead Thursday morning inside their home at 240 March Ave. after Louis Drotos called 911 to report a murder, Cumberland police Detective Tony Gismondi said.
Mary Sue Drotos was shot once while lying in bed, and her husband, Louis Drotos, died from what appeared to be self-inflicted gunshot wound, Gismondi said. His body was found on the living room couch and a pistol was located nearby, he said.
Autopsies performed Friday afternoon showed both sustained gunshot wounds to the head, Gismondi said.
Louis Drotos called 911 at 8:14 a.m. and told emergency responders “there’s been a murder” at the home.
“He didn’t really explain anything,” Gismondi said.
Police responding to the scene did not know if there was an intruder inside and forced their way into the home.
Gismondi said they found no evidence to indicate anyone else was inside the home before Louis Drotos made the phone call to 911.
Gismondi said they’re waiting for toxicology results from the autopsy to close the investigation. He did not know the motive for the murder-suicide. A neighbor said last week the couple did not appear to have any issues.
“There’s nothing to indicate they were having a dispute,” Gismondi said.
“There was no other secondary evidence or other wounds that would indicate any altercation took place. It did not appear there was any struggle involved,” he said.