Couple died in murder-suicide, police say

Published 10:03 pm Thursday, July 25, 2013

Suffolk police say the couple found dead in their Nansemond River Drive home Wednesday were victims of a murder-suicide.

They have been identified as Lucy Celenia Perry, 67, and her husband Dennis Joseph Perry, 64.

Autopsies showed Dennis Perry shot his wife before turning the gun on himself, city spokeswoman Diana Klink said in a press release. A release Thursday stated no foul play was suspected.

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Neighbors said Thursday they called police after noticing the couple’s absence from church and an overflowing mailbox. The last time a neighbor had seen one of them was Thursday morning.

A relative gave police permission to enter the home, the city said.

The couple were members at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses at White Marsh Road.

The event is the fourth domestic murder-suicide in the city since March 2009.