Le Grand deaths of husband, wife ruled murder-suicide

By Victor A. Patton
Merced Sun-Star

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LE GRAND - The deaths of two Le Grand residents whose bodies were found Tuesday inside their home have been ruled as murder-suicide by the Merced County Sheriff's Department.

The victims, Charles and Mary Charlotte Dixon, both 67, each died as result of a single gunshot to the head, according to Deputy Ed Katen. Detectives investigating the case said that it appears that Charles Dixon killed his wife and turned the gun on himself. The bodies were found next to each other in the kitchen, and a small-caliber gun was found next to the man's body

Katen said there was no signs of forced break-in at the house and no evidence of foul play.

Bodies of man, woman found near Le Grand in Merced County

The couple's 12-year-old granddaughter was in an upstairs bedroom in the home and heard the couple arguing, Katen said. She heard gunshots and called her father on the telephone. After arriving at the home, the father called 911 after discovering the bodies.

Detectives on Tuesday interviewed the victims' family and 12-year-old girl.

Katen said investigators have no clues about why the shooting happened, saying there were no "issues" between the couple that law enforcement is aware of.