Elderly Florida Man Shoots Wife and Himself
Posted on 05/11/10
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - WESH.com
Winter Haven Police are investigating a murder-suicide that happened in a surgical ward at Winter Haven Hospital around 1:30 p.m. Monday.
According to reports, Ramon Duckworth, 77, hid a gun when he went to visit his wife, Patricia, 76.
Once in her room, investigators said he shot her and then turned the gun on himself.
Patricia Duckworth recently had surgery for a kidney infection and family members said she had a stroke a few months ago.
The couple married 57 years ago.
Some of the couple’s neighbors and family members said Ramon Duckworth was suffering from a number of illnesses including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s and prostate cancer.
Investigators believe the couples’ declining health may have contributed to this murder-suicide.
“It’s shocking,” Maria Sykes said.
Sykes’ mother recently came out of surgery on the same floor where the shooting happened.
She found out about the murder-suicide when she called to check on her mother.
“My mother was there, and that made it worse,” she said.
Following the shooting, the hospital cleared out most patients on the floor. Twenty workers were also rushed out.
Source (article): MSNBC
Source (picture): CENTRAL-ORTHOPEDICS
