Trace Christenson

Battle Creek Enquirer

Calhoun County Sheriff Matt Saxton said department officials had no prior indication that a deputy might kill his wife and himself.

But that is the conclusion investigators have reached in the murder-suicide of Hope Elferdink, 38, and her husband, Deputy Mark Elferdink, 43.

Both were found dead in the backyard of their house on McAllister Road in Emmett Township on Sunday morning.

"We are confirming that it was a murder-suicide and he is responsible for the death of his wife and himself," Saxton said Monday afternoon. Saxton said the couple was divorcing.

Chief Mike Olson of the Emmett Township Department of Public Safety said after the autopsy the Calhoun County Medical Examiner had determined the deaths were a homicide and a suicide. His department is continuing its investigation.

Investigators said Hope Elferdink was shot three times and Mark Elferdink once. Police said they found his personal semi-automatic handgun near the bodies.

Police were called at 7:51 a.m. after the couple's son, one of two children, found the bodies. Two other friends of the children were at the home for a sleep-over. No one else was hurt.

Saxton said it appears that Mark Elferdink, who was still living at the home, left about 7:15 p.m. with some friends and spent some time at Firekeepers Casino before returning home about 11 p.m. Olson said investigators believe the shooting occurred about 1 a.m.

Both Saxton and Olson said there were no prior reports of domestic violence.

Saxton said Mark Elferdink was an 18-year employee, beginning his career working in the jail. He later was assigned to road patrol in Pennfield Township for about 10 years.

Hope Elferdink was a nurse at the Calhoun County Medical Care Facility, he said, and until a divorce suit was filed about a month ago, Saxton said he believed they were a happy family, with no violent behavior.

"There were no indicators other than it was known that they were going through a divorce," Saxton said. "The folks that talked to him said he was doing all right with it.

"To me they seemed like the all-American family, a husband, wife and two kids. I didn't know about any problems until I heard they were getting a divorce."

"We are trying to make sense of a senseless act," Saxton said. "It is just hard and we will never have the answers. We as an agency are examining the tragedy in hopes of finding some closure and to see if we missed any indicators. But there is nothing that would have made us think this might occur.

"As the sheriff my heart aches for the surviving family and mostly for the two young kids who are left with no parents."

Saxton said funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Contact Trace Christenson at 269-966-0685 or tchrist@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @TSChristenson