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PROVO -- The co-owner of Utah's well-known La Caille restaurant and his wife were found dead in a hotel room Christmas night, the apparent result of a murder-suicide.
Steven Runolfson, 56, and his wife, Lisa Runolfson, 57, were found by hotel staff of the Provo Marriott about 9:45 p.m. Saturday.
Provo police released limited information Sunday about the incident. But noted that based on information detectives had collected, they believed the two fulfilled a pact to end their lives together.
"It looks like from information from the family and from the scene that it was a mutual agreement that they were going to end their lives," said Provo Police Sgt. Reed Van Wagoner. "We believe they had agreed to end each other lives ... There's no indication he murdered her without her being a willing participant."
Steven Runolfson is a co-owner of the upscale French restaurant La Caille, 9565 S. Wasatch Blvd., as well as its president and chief executive officer. His wife described herself online as its decorator.
The couple checked into the hotel on Thursday, Dec. 23. They were last seen leaving the restaurant, however, after work on Friday, said Unified Police Lt. Don Hutson.
On Dec. 24, police say either Steven or Lisa left a message on a relative's phone.
"There was a voicemail left that stated, 'We're not coming home, don't hold a service for us,'" Van Wagoner said.
UPD detectives put the Runolfsons on the national NCIC database, meaning if any police officer came in contact with them, they would be notified that they were missing.
The Runolfsons apparently returned to the hotel and had their pet dog with them.
"It appears they sat down and had a dinner with some wine," Van Wagoner said.
It was unknown Sunday when the murder-suicide took place. Van Wagoner said no one in the hotel heard the gunshots. The Runolfsons were supposed to check out of the hotel on Friday but had asked for the option of staying an extra day if they needed to, Van Wagoner said.
At 9:45 p.m. Saturday, a hotel manager knocked on their room door. He heard the dog inside but no one answered. When he entered the room, he found Lisa Runolfson lifeless on the bed and what appeared to be blood. The hotel manager then left the room and called police.
When officers arrived and looked more closely, they found the lifeless bodies of both Runolfsons in bed.
A hostess who answered the phone at La Caille Sunday night said the restaurant did not have any type of statement to release.
Runolfson was co-owner of the restaurant with the 20-acre property along with David Johnson. Runolfson also listed his home address as on the La Caille property.
Runolfson and Johnson formed a partnership in 1973. Johnson purchased what was then known as Quail Run from his father. Runolfson had been working under Lester at Quail Run.
In 2006, a former longtime third partner, Mark Haug, filed a civil lawsuit against Runolfson and Johnson over an alleged breached agreement. In March, a jury awarded Haug $4.7 million.
La Caille is currently listed by Sotheby's International Real Estate.
Steven Runolfson told the Deseret News in September that the restaurant, in operation since 1974, was doing well but he and Johnson were seeking investors to expand the business to possibly include a winery and a small hotel.
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Story written by Pat Reavy and Lisa Riley Roche.
