73-Year-Old Man Kills Wife, Calls 911 Before Taking His Own Life In Death Valley

An elderly couple from Las Vegas, Nevada, was found dead in California's Death Valley National Park in what officials believe was a murder-suicide. Their bodies were found after the husband called 911 and gave details about their location.

Paul Fischer, 73, and his wife, Mary Fischer, 72, were found dead on Jan. 13, the New York Post reported Thursday.

Paul confessed to killing his wife on the 911 call and said he intended to take his own life, before telling the operator where their bodies could be found. He reportedly also left a note behind that said that Mary was suffering from bad health.

The husband "called the Inyo County Sheriff's Office to report that he had just killed his wife, Mary Fischer, 72. Mr. Fischer stated his intention to kill himself and told the 911 operator where to find them," the National Park Service said in a Wednesday statement.

Inyo County Sheriff's Office, the Inyo County Coroner's Office, the National Park Service, the California Highway Patrol and the Bureau of Land Management arrived at the location to find the deceased couple, according to NBC News.

In a note left behind in their car, Paul explained that his wife was suffering from "chronic health conditions," the statement added. Details about the cause of death of the husband and wife were not revealed.

It is reportedly rare for killings to take place in Death Valley, where the first murder in recent years took place in the year 2020 along the park's eastern edge.

An unrelated incident was recently reported after a middle-aged couple and their teenage son were found dead in their Ohio home. The three family members suffered gunshot wounds and appeared to have been dead for days before officials found them during a well-being check on Jan. 18. Investigators did not find any signs of forced entry and believe the incident is a double homicide and suicide. However, details were not immediately released about which of the deceased family members was the perpetrator.

If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours, every day.