Carol SetchfieldThe Louisa County Sheriff's Office says two people have died following a murder - suicide that happened around 9:30 Tuesday night along the 1800 block of Mount Airy Road.
Investigators say 47-year-old Jerry Persinger of Palmyra shot 43-year-old Carol Setchfield and then turned the gun on himself.
Major Donald Lowe of the Louisa County Sheriff's Office said, "It appears as though they had an ongoing relationship. We haven't really determined at this point whether or not they were breaking up, or what the status of the relationship was." Police say the Setchfield and Persinger did not live together.
Setchfield's two children were home during the shootings and dialed 911. Lowe said, "One of the children was outside, the 17-year-old was outside with a pet - heard a gunshot and immediately called 911. The second one was in the house."
Investigators spent much of the night at the house wrapping up forensic work. They recovered a handgun and shell casings from a bedroom. Lowe said, "It was all contained in one room, one bedroom. A female was shot and there was a male in the same room that was shot also."
Both bodies have been sent to the medical examiner's office in Richmond for autopsy.
Police say Persinger did not have a criminal record and this was the first time deputies had been called to the home.
We are told that Setchfield's children will be staying in the area with family.
