ST. SIMONS ISLAND | Two people found dead at a physician’s office on the island Monday night were a man and woman who likely died of a murder-suicide, police said.

Police responding to a 911 call about 5:45 p.m. found the physician, William Nelson, 63, and a woman, Catherine Tortorete, 51, both dead inside Nelson’s office at 284 Redfern Village, Glynn County police Capt. Marissa Tindale said in a release.

Both appeared to have died of gunshot wounds, Tindale said.

Tindale said Tuesday morning that both were armed and that until recently they had been in an intimate relationship.

Both had applied recently to Glynn County Magistrate Court for good behavior warrants to compel the other to stay away.

In a Jan. 25 warrant application, Tortorete accused Nelson of stealing her house keys and dog that day.

In her supporting affidavit, Tortorete said she and Nelson had dated from Dec. 31 until Jan. 24 and that he had become "possessive [and] obsessed … calling and tracking my every move."

She said there had been arguments and that, "I was fearful he would stab me in my sleep."

She told Nelson she wanted to be alone but found him waiting when she arrived at home in Brockington South, Tortorete wrote.

Brockington South is a condominium complex about a mile from Nelson’s office.

Six days later, she had the warrant dismissed, saying there had been discussion and resolution.

Nelson sought a warrant Feb. 6 in which he accused Tortorete of breaking into his office and going through it.

In his hand-written, barely legible affidavit Nelson said Tortorete entered the office "because she was ‘stood up.’ "

A hearing was scheduled on Nelson’s warrant last week, but neither Nelson nor Tortorete appeared for court.

Nelson’s business neighbors said that Nelson lived at his office, and both his and Tortorete’s warrant applications show 284 Redfern Village as his residence.

Nelson’s office is tucked away off the main circle drive through Redfern Village, a shopping center with a number of popular restaurants and trendy shops near St. Simons’ busiest intersection. His business neighbors include a family practice physician, a cat veterinarian, a lawyer and an architect.

In 2009, Glynn-Brunswick Narcotics Enforcement Team officers and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents raided the office. They were waiting outside with a federal search warrant when Nelson arrived before 8 a.m. They carted out records all day, but Nelson was not charged.

Glynn County detectives continue to investigate the deaths, and Tindale said autopsies will be performed on the bodies.

Terry Dickson: (912) 264-0405