Murder-suicide might have been planned

Friday morning’s murder-suicide between a married couple in the Meadowood Retirement Community might have been pre-meditated.

Robert and Ruth Smith were found shot to death in one of the retirement center’s hospital rooms, according to police.

Ruth was found on a bed with four gunshot wounds to the torso. Robert was found on the floor next to the bed with a single head shot.

“We know they had conversations about what they would do if they couldn’t take care of themselves,” Bloomington Police Department Sgt. Steve Kellams said.

A .38 caliber revolver was also found in the room.

There was another resident in the room at the time of shooting, Kellams said, but because of medical conditions the person was unable to provide the police with any information.

Ruth had been put in the retirement center for prior medical conditions as a result of
Robert’s hospitalization.

Recently released from the hospital, Robert had lunch with Ruth in the activities room before the shooting occurred.

An exact timeline of events is not known to police, but there was no indication of arguments taking place before gunshots were fired.

“We believe he was not going to be able to physically take care of her anymore,” Kellams said.

The investigation is coming to a close as police wait for final autopsy reports to come in.

Kellams said he does not anticipate any new evidence to surface.

— Dennis Barbosa