Husband, wife shot to death in Valley

Wed., Dec. 1, 2004

By Trinity Hartman trinityh@spokesman.com

Police found two people shot dead in a Spokane Valley basement Tuesday afternoon.

The Spokane Valley Police Department believes it could be a murder-suicide.

Tiffany M. Benoff had gone to talk with her estranged husband, William “Billy” Benoff, about their impending divorce, said Valley Police spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan. A friend of Tiffany Benoff’s became concerned when she went to pick the woman up about 2:30 p.m. and no one answered the door.

Police went to 11105 E. 37th Ave. where Benoff was staying with relatives to check on Tiffany Benoff’s welfare. In a basement bedroom they found 32-year-old William Benoff dead. He had been shot in the head. Next to him was a semiautomatic pistol. On the other side of the bed, police found 28-year-old Tiffany Benoff. She was also dead of a gunshot wound to the head, Reagan said.

While detectives continue to investigate the deaths, initially they appear to be a murder-suicide, Reagan said.

The couple had two children. Police believe both children were from previous relationships.

The couple had been estranged for several weeks and Tiffany Benoff had gone to the courthouse earlier Tuesday to pick up paperwork for the divorce, Reagan said. A court listing shows the couple filed for divorce earlier this month.

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