Two Dead in Apparent Murder-Suicide in Western Wyoming

A husband and wife are dead after an apparent murder-suicide at their home in western Wyoming, authorities say.

71-year-old Gary Dale Hodges and 46-year-old Memorie Jean Hodges were found dead Monday afternoon when Lincoln County sheriff's deputies went to their home in Star Valley Ranch.

Sheriff Shane Johnson told K2 Radio News that his deputies went to the house  to conduct a welfare check after a woman reported that she hadn't heard from her father for longer than usual. Deputies didn't get a response at the front door, and entered the single-family home.

The couple had both evidently suffered gunshot wounds, and a firearm was recovered near their bodies. Johnson said they had been dead for roughly seven to 10 days before deputies arrived.

"We aren't looking for anybody else in this case. It's secured, we're just finishing up our investigation to put together what happened there," Johnson said in a phone interview Wednesday. Investigators believe the firearm recovered at the scene was the only weapon used in the killings.

No motive was immediately apparent.

"We're still reaching out to those individuals that knew the family and family members to see if we can find out what brought this on," Johnson explained, "but at this time it's an unknown."

The couple had lived in the area for less than three years, Johnson said.

No criminal charges are anticipated in connection with the deaths.