Saturday, Nov. 01, 2008

Two dead, one wounded in apparent murder-suicide

OAKDALE — A man and his adult son died in an apparent murder-suicide Saturday morning, and the man's wife also was shot, Oakdale police said.

Charles Massey, 66, was found dead in the house on the 200 block of North Oak Street, holding a black .380-caliber semiautomatic handgun. Police suspect he shot himself. A one-page typed note next to his body referred to "his wife and son," and outlined financial woes, police said.

Massey's son, 37-year old Thomas Massey, died at Oak Valley Hospital.

Massey's wife, Belinda Massey, 58, was flown to Memorial Medical Center in Modesto. She can communicate by nodding yes and no, said Lt. Lester Jenkins.

The three had single gunshot wounds to the head, Jenkins said. Police forced their way into the house at 9:28 a.m. after they saw Charles Massey bleeding from the head through the backdoor of his house.

Officers were responding to two 911 calls from the house made at 9:19 and 9:20, but there was only static coming from the other end, Jenkins said.

None of the neighbors reported hearing gunfire or anything unusual, Jenkins said.

Police said the 37-year-old Massey had recently moved back home with his parents, after moving to Los Angeles to become an actor.

Police said the Masseys were known as a "clean family," and Saturday was the first time officers had been called to the house.

Neighbors said Charles Massey retired from the Hershey plant in Oakdale several years ago.

Bee staff writer Merrill Balassone can be reached at mbalassone@modbee.com or 578-2337.