VERNON — A township couple was found dead in their bed Thursday morning with apparent gunshot wounds, police said.

At 9:55 a.m., police responded to Woodland Hills Drive in response to a welfare check on Cindy Fortino, 41, and her husband, Dean Fortino, 45, Vernon police said in a Facebook post.

UPDATE: Family members "still in shock" over couple's death.

Both Fortinos were found dead in their bed with gunshot wounds, which the Sussex County Medical Examiner determined to be the cause of death, police said.

Cindy Fortino's death was classified as a suicide, but the manner of Dean Fortino's death is still undetermined pending further examination, police said.

According to police, there is no cause for public alarm because there is no evidence a third party was involved in the shooting.

Sussex County First Assistant Prosecutor Gregory Mueller told New Jersey Herald that the precise time of their deaths was currently unknown.

Township police were assisted by the New Jersey State Police crime scene unit along with the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office.

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

