Two found dead in murder-suicide after mail starts piling up, Ohio cops say
A man and woman were found dead inside an Ohio home after a worried neighbor called police, officials said.
William Neal, 67, and 60-year-old Laurie Neal died in what investigators believe was a murder-suicide, the Troy Police Department said in an April 19 news release.
A neighbor contacted police on April 18 after speaking with the mail carrier, who pointed out that mail was starting to pile up at the Neals’ house, as no one was bringing it inside, police said. The neighbor also told officers that she hadn’t seen either of the Neals since April 13, five days earlier.
“After unsuccessful attempts to locate the residents, and additional concerning facts were gathered, officers decided to enter the home,” police said. But it wasn’t easy. Someone had barricaded the house.
Officers “discovered the house was secured, with additional measures taken from the inside to barricade doors using bungee cords,” police said, adding that officers got inside with help from the fire department.
They found William and Laurie Neal dead, and it appears William Neal killed Laurie Neal before dying by suicide, investigators said.
Police haven’t said what may have motivated the killing.
Their bodies were taken from the scene for autopsy, police said. The investigation is ongoing.
Troy is a roughly 20-mile drive north from Dayton.
Murder-suicide
Up to 600 murder-suicides happen each year, according to the FBI. They account for about 1,000 deaths a year.
“Although uncommon, such incidents vary widely in terms of the persons involved, how they are related, and where the crimes take place,” the FBI reported. “Usually, law enforcement personnel deal with murder-suicides involving two people in domestic settings or relationships.”
About 65% of murder-suicides involve intimate partners, officials said, and 81% happen in the home.
This story was originally published April 20, 2025 at 3:23 PM with the headline "Two found dead in murder-suicide after mail starts piling up, Ohio cops say."