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WEST VALLEY CITY — The bodies of two people were discovered inside a home Monday following what police called an apparent murder-suicide.
Police were called to 3488 S. Park Vista Drive (5120 West) about 5:30 a.m. Inside, they found the bodies of Francisco Javier Tapia and Monica Tapia, both 51, and both with fatal gunshot wounds.
Police said they believe Francisco Tapia shot his wife and then turned the gun on himself.
"I don't know the specific motive, although I do know we have a history of domestic violence calls at that home," West Valley police spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku said Monday night.
Vainuku said someone from inside the house called 911 to report the bodies. That person was in the home at the time of the shooting, but police don't believe they were targeted by Francisco Tapia, she said.
Vainuku declined to release any other information about the person who called 911. She didn't immediately know where in the home the deceased couple were found or whether a note was left.
Detectives obtained a search warrant Monday afternoon to go through the house more extensively.
All of the initial findings indicate a murder-suicide, but detectives are still reviewing all of the evidence carefully before officially ruling anything out, according to Vainuku.
Contributing: Sandra Yi, Ben Lockhart
- The Utah Domestic Violence Coalition has a statewide, 24-hour hotline for victims of domestic violence at 1-800-897-LINK (5465).
- The Division of Child and Family Services offers counseling, teaches parenting skills and conflict resolution and can connect the family with community resources. Their goal is to keep children with their family when it is "possible and safe," according to their website. Visitdcfs.utah.gov/questions/or call 1-800-323-DCFS (3237) for resources or to report child abuse or neglect.
- The Christmas Box House acts as a temporary shelter for children and can provide them with new clothing and shoes, among other services. Call the Salt Lake office at 801-747-2201 or the Ogden office at 801-866-0350.
