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BEAVER — A woman was found shot to death and her live-in boyfriend arrested here Saturday.
Beaver County Sheriff Cameron Noel said that the death may have been the result of an attempted murder-suicide.
When deputies arrived at the residence, they found Desiree Shotwell, 37, dead on the floor, and her boyfriend, Corey Fordham, 42, lying next to her with a gun nearby.
"I wouldn't be surprised if it was a murder-suicide and he just didn't go forward with the suicide, but I don't know that for sure," the sheriff said.
Noel described Fordham as "extremely intoxicated" when deputies arrived.
The sheriff's office was originally called to the residence after Fordham called a friend.
"He makes a statement to the effect to him that he had shot her," Noel said Fordham had told the friend.
That friend then called the sheriff's office.
"All he told us was we needed to go check on her safety because he wasn't sure if (Fordham) was telling him the truth of not," the sheriff said.
Fordham and Shotwell had a child together in high school, who is an adult now, Noel said. They reportedly split up but recently had gotten back together after many years.
Shotwell owned a gem shop in Beaver called Love the Art.
Fordham was a person whom deputies had a long history with, including a prior arrest within the past 30 days.
In 2013, Fordham was convicted of assault on a police officer, according to court records.
Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting the YWCA's Women in Jeopardy program at 801-537-8600, or the statewide Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-897-LINK (5465).
