divorce help : Messy divorce turned bloody, police believe
BEAUMONT - A couple in the middle of a messy divorce was found shot to death in their North End home Wednesday in what police believe was a murder-suicide.
Keith O'Hanlon, 62, and Nelda Jane O'Hanlon, 57, were found dead at their house in the 5200 block of Ada Street.
The bodies were discovered lying on the floor of the living room around 12:20 p.m. by a lawn service company worker, who contacted police.
"At this point it appears to be murder-suicide," Beaumont Police Lt. Charles Tyler said, although he did not say who shot whom.
If it is a murder-suicide, it would be the second in Jefferson County in less than two weeks.
In the very early morning of June 30, Jefferson County authorities say Richard Jennings of China killed his wife and two of three children before turning the weapon on himself. His 13-year-old son escaped and went to get help.
In Wednesday's case in Beaumont, there was no evidence of an intruder, he added.
A handgun was found at the scene, and both bodies were taken to the Jefferson County morgue for autopsies.
The worker looked through a back window and saw the two lying on the floor, said Carmen Apple, Beaumont police spokeswoman.
The couple had been dead about two hours before they were found, Apple added.
According to court documents, Nelda Jane O'Hanlon filed for divorce in April after almost 32 years of marriage.
A court order issued in May gave her exclusive use of the home, but she had to pay Keith O'Hanlon $500 a month for two months.
The order also gave her use of the couple's Ford van, while he got the Chevrolet pickup.
Keith O'Hanlon was distraught and was afraid he would lose everything -including the house and retirement accounts - in the divorce, said a neighbor who spoke to him about a week ago.
"He felt like he was getting the short end of the stick," said Rebecca Schlegel, who lives across the street from the couple.
Keith O'Hanlon, who had been living with his son, seemed like a friendly, outgoing person, Schlegel added.
"If you were outside working on your car, he'd come over and offer to help," she said.
Other court documents show Keith O'Hanlon had filed for divorce in 1998, but the case was dismissed in 2000 after he failed to pursue the matter.
Even though the couple was going through marital problems, neighbors expressed shock that it had ended in violence.
"The way (Keith O'Hanlon) loved his family, I thought they'd work it out and he'd be back quick," said Rodney Mitchell, who also lives across the street.
By: Rolando Garcia and Dee Dixon,
Keith O'Hanlon, 62, and Nelda Jane O'Hanlon, 57, were found dead at their house in the 5200 block of Ada Street.
The bodies were discovered lying on the floor of the living room around 12:20 p.m. by a lawn service company worker, who contacted police.
"At this point it appears to be murder-suicide," Beaumont Police Lt. Charles Tyler said, although he did not say who shot whom.
If it is a murder-suicide, it would be the second in Jefferson County in less than two weeks.
In the very early morning of June 30, Jefferson County authorities say Richard Jennings of China killed his wife and two of three children before turning the weapon on himself. His 13-year-old son escaped and went to get help.
In Wednesday's case in Beaumont, there was no evidence of an intruder, he added.
A handgun was found at the scene, and both bodies were taken to the Jefferson County morgue for autopsies.
The worker looked through a back window and saw the two lying on the floor, said Carmen Apple, Beaumont police spokeswoman.
The couple had been dead about two hours before they were found, Apple added.
According to court documents, Nelda Jane O'Hanlon filed for divorce in April after almost 32 years of marriage.
A court order issued in May gave her exclusive use of the home, but she had to pay Keith O'Hanlon $500 a month for two months.
The order also gave her use of the couple's Ford van, while he got the Chevrolet pickup.
Keith O'Hanlon was distraught and was afraid he would lose everything -including the house and retirement accounts - in the divorce, said a neighbor who spoke to him about a week ago.
"He felt like he was getting the short end of the stick," said Rebecca Schlegel, who lives across the street from the couple.
Keith O'Hanlon, who had been living with his son, seemed like a friendly, outgoing person, Schlegel added.
"If you were outside working on your car, he'd come over and offer to help," she said.
Other court documents show Keith O'Hanlon had filed for divorce in 1998, but the case was dismissed in 2000 after he failed to pursue the matter.
Even though the couple was going through marital problems, neighbors expressed shock that it had ended in violence.
"The way (Keith O'Hanlon) loved his family, I thought they'd work it out and he'd be back quick," said Rodney Mitchell, who also lives across the street.
By: Rolando Garcia and Dee Dixon,
