Only survivor of Orchard Mesa murder-suicide has died, according to coroner

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KJCT) - The Mesa County Coroner has released an update in the case of a murder-suicide earlier this week in Orchard Mesa. Both the husband and wife involved in the incident have died.

The 61-year-old man identified by the coroner died by suicide via a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. His wife, a 67-year-old woman, was taken to a Grand Junction hospital in critical condition after also suffering a gunshot wound to the head. She survived for a short time after being shot, but the coroner states that she eventually died from her wounds. The manner of death is homicide.

Both of the dead were identified by the coroner as residents of Orchard Mesa. Their identities have been released to the public via the Mesa County Coroners office. It is the policy of KJCT News 8 not to publicly identify victims of domestic violence or suicide without the express consent of their next-of-kin.

Toxicology tests are still pending, and the investigation is still proceeding as of the writing of this article.