British couple found dead in suspected murder-suicide in California
The couple were found with gunshot wounds.
A British taxi boss bought a gun specifically to kill his wife before turning the weapon on himself, police believe.
Carl Ashcroft shot his wife then killed himself in their daughter’s home in California, USA, on November 12.
The 61-year-old killed his wife Kathryn, 55, and even told a friend what he was going to do beforehand, Wigan Today reported.
The person who received the call dismissed it as a joke initially before the couple were both found with gunshot wounds.
It happened at their daughter Fallon’s home in Rancho Mirage, a city in Riverside County just south east of Palm Springs.
Ashcroft, who was the owner of Pemberton Taxis based in Wigan, Greater Manchester in England, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Kathryn was rushed to hospital where she later died from her injuries.
Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has said in a statement the case is being investigated as a ‘murder-suicide’, and added there’s no threat to the wider community.
Sergeant Mike Kelleher said yesterday: ‘The victim in this case was identified as Kathryn Ashcroft, a 55-year-old resident of Simi Valley.
‘The suspect has been identified as Carl Ashcroft, a 61-year-old resident of Simi Valley.’
Investigations into what happened are still underway but US police believe Ashcroft shot his wife and then turned the gun on himself.
The source said: ‘The shooting happened at Fallon’s house. We don’t know if she was there at the time or not. But it’s truly horrible.
‘Carl had never bothered with guns while in America but something has clearly gone badly wrong.
‘I’ve been told he bought this gun for the specific purpose of doing what he did.
‘Then he rang someone to tell them he was going to kill Kathy but at first they took it as a joke so they didn’t do anything about it.
‘It is so terribly sad. Kathy was a lovely woman who spent most of her life in Wigan but didn’t have any family here. She must never be forgotten though.’
Ashcroft and Kathryn met 40 years ago when Kathryn was in her mid-teens.
Friends have described them as a loving couple who would do everything together.
They spent most of their relationship living in Wigan, but had been spending time in America recently – in Florida and then California.
A spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office said: ‘The case will continue to be investigated by the Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit and the Sheriff’s Coroner’s Bureau until a determination can be made.’
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