Police are looking for motive in what they believe was a murder-suicide in a home in downtown Pittsboro.

PITTSBORO, Ind. (WTHR) - Police are looking for motive in what they believe was a murder-suicide in a home in downtown Pittsboro.

It's unclear exactly when this suspected murder-suicide happened. It's possible the victims' bodies were in the house for some time.

Police went to the house when relatives of the female victim called saying they were concerned. They had not heard from her in a while.

"They had opened up the door and I smelled just death," said neighbor Ryan Marvel. "It was awful."

Police found the bodies in the house, dead from apparent gunshot wounds. We're told a shotgun was found at the scene.

Neighbor Billy Scaggs said, "(Last) Tuesday somewhere in the mid-overnight, I heard a loud what sounded like a shot, but wasn't really sure."

After hearing that shot, she never saw her 49-year-old neighbor Robin again, or her longtime boyfriend, 39-year-old Brock. That would mean it's possible the shooting happened a week ago and the bodies were just now found. Pittsboro Police Deputy Chief Scott King, though, said they have "not been able to confirm that at all."

"I'd seen them. She would come down to the gas station," said Sheryl Dyke, a neighbor. "It's been over a week" since Dyke had last seen the woman.

But investigators won't have a date of death until an autopsy, which was planned for Tuesday afternoon.

Neighbors say the man and woman had lived in the house since April. The couple's german shepherd and chihuahua were found tied to the back deck. They were taken in by animal control and are said to be okay.

"The dogs were never really taken care of," Marvel said. "They were outside all day in the heat barking."

The next-door neighbor says recently he saw the Chihuahua caught between spindles of the railing and tried to help.

"I also didn't want to get bit so I was yelling at the people. And the lady walks outside, stumbling, acting like she was on a lot of drugs. And then she got her dog and went back inside and I never heard or seen her again."

That was over a week ago.

"I know people aren't supposed to talk about it a lot, but I feel people need to start going to church more and actually get involved in their community," said Marvel, "and that way if someone needs help like that, that they can get the help."

Police said they had no record of police runs to the house before finding the bodies.

Family of female victim worried about her. No contact in sometime. Called police today to check on her safety. pic.twitter.com/X2oOdMYEB9 — David MacAnally (@DavidMacAnally) August 23, 2016



