SRSO: Pace husband and wife found dead in apparent murder-suicide

A Pace man allegedly shot his wife Saturday morning and then turned the gun on himself in an apparent murder-suicide under investigation by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office.

Gary Farrell, 72, and his wife, Judith Farrell, 61, were both found dead Saturday at their home in the 5300 block of East Avenida De Golf in Pace.

The case remains under investigation, but all indications point to a murder-suicide, according to a news release from SRSO.

Deputies responded to the home at about 7:40 a.m. after what was initially reported as a suicide, according to a redacted SRSO report.

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When authorities checked the house, they found both Gary and Judith Farrell dead in their master bedroom.

Gary Farrell was found lying on his back and not moving. He was pronounced dead immediately. His wife was found lying face down on the bed near a pool of blood, and a deputy observed what appeared to be a gunshot wound. Paramedics were called to the scene, and Judith Farrell was declared deceased shortly before 8 a.m.

A witness told authorities he was lying on the couch in the living room when Judith Farrell walked from the room where she was sleeping into the master bedroom, where her husband was.

The witness told police that shortly after that, he head two loud "claps" from that room, according to the report.

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Witnesses also told deputies they saw Gary Farrell holding a handgun and tried to get him to put it down before the shooting.

The witnesses all said the couple had been drinking and arguing the previous night but they did not hear arguing that morning, the report states.

The deputy noted in the report that he recognized the couple, as well as the witnesses, from previous calls to the residence.