The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office is treating the death of a Clayton couple found dead in their home Monday night as an apparent murder-suicide.
Around 7:15pm, deputies responded to a call from the couple’s children, ages 11 and 16, who reported their parents were in a bedroom arguing. When the argument began to escalate, authorities said the two children went to a neighbors home to use the telephone to call 911 for help.
When deputies arrived on the scene at 119 Bentley Way, off Covered Bridge Road, the officers found the couple dead from apparent gunshot wounds.
Sheriff’s office spokesperson Tammy Amaon said it appears Michael Summers, 46, shot and killed his wife, 45 year-old Jennifer Louise Summers, then turned the gun on himself.
Amaon said the sheriff’s office had a record of one prior domestic related incident involving the couple in May 2015.
The children were placed in the custody of their grandparents.
