Utah Murder-Suicide: Woman Shot Dead, Suspect Sends Photos To Friends Before Killing Self

Following a three-hour standoff with a SWAT team Friday (May 1), two people were found dead in an apartment in Midvale, Utah, in what appears to be a suspected case of murder-suicide.

The victims, identified as Miranda Schachinger and Issac Renfro, both aged 26 and hailing from Midvale, were found dead with gunshot wounds in Candlestick Lane Apartments, 170 E. located at 7800 South State Street.

The officials from the Unified Police Department responded to the apartment after they received information from “numerous sources” that Renfro made communication with his friends that indicated a gruesome crime he had committed. It was later discovered that he had sent text and picture messages to his friends indicating that he had killed Schachinger.

Unified Police Department spokesman Detective Ken Hansen, considering the sensitivity of the issue, refused to give more information about what was in the pictures. He told local media that the images clearly proved that “there had been a significant issue inside."

The police, on arrival at the scene, tried to contact the people inside the home, but on failing to receive a response called in the SWAT team. Meanwhile, the negotiators were able to establish communication with Renfro through a telephone in the house. But shortly, the communication ended after two gunshots were heard from inside the apartment.

According to Hansen, one of the bullets went right through a window in the apartment, but police were unable to confirm what it hit. The second shot was heard and the police believed that Renfro had shot himself.

The SWAT team sent in a robot to check movements inside the apartment, and it sent out images of two dead bodies inside the house. After finding no other movement, the team entered the house and found the duo dead inside.

The motive behind the slaying is still unclear but, according to the police, a possible domestic dispute led to the apparent murder-suicide. The relation between the two is still not known. Police are investigating the case and no further information is available at the moment.