In brief: Murder-suicide suspected in deaths

Authorities are investigating what they believe is a murder-suicide after a couple were found dead in their Spokane Valley home Friday from apparent gunshot wounds.

The couple’s daughter called police about 3:40 p.m. after finding her 78-year-old mother’s body in her bed in the 10300 block of East 48th Avenue. The woman had been suffering from terminal dementia, said Sgt. Dave Reagan, Spokane Valley Police Department spokesman.

The woman’s husband, 70, had been providing round-the- clock care for his wife, who was released from the hospital a few weeks ago, Reagan said. She had become increasingly difficult to care for, Reagan said.

The husband was found dead in a chair with a pistol in his lap. Detectives said the couple’s financial papers had been laid out, but no suicide note was found.

Sara Leaming

Arrests made in pair of store holdups

A man accused of robbing a Spokane pizza shop in September is also accused of robbing a convenience store, and police have arrested a second man on suspicion of driving the getaway car.

Spokane police believe Justin J. Ellery, 24, waited in a car as Christopher R. Walinski, 25, robbed the Zip Trip at 3030 E. Euclid Ave. at gunpoint Sept. 29.

Ellery was arrested Wednesday and booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges of first-degree robbery. Walinski was booked into jail Oct. 31 on suspicion of first-degree robbery in the holdup Sept. 28 at Papa John’s, 920 W. Indiana Ave. He was charged with another count of first-degree robbery in the Zip Trip holdup, police said.

Staff reports