Westmoreland (WSYR-TV) - The Oneida County Sheriff's Office released a statement Friday morning indicating that the incident that resulted in the deaths of two Westmoreland residents was a murder-suicide.
Autopsies conducted on the victims on Thursday revealed that Lisa Guzzardo, 45, had died from four gunshot wounds to the head, while David Hoole, 41, died from one gunshot to the head. The deputies believe the incident was the result of a dispute in the home.
Deputies investigated the residence on Route 26 in the town outside of Rome after Guzzardo's employer called them to check on her welfare. When they arrived, the deputies had to wait until animal control could come to deal with a large dog on the property. When they entered the home, the deputies found the bodies and determined that they had died of "suspicious causes."
Oneida County Undersheriff Peter Paravati told media on Thursday that there had been a history of violence at the home.
Deputies recovered the weapon, a 22-caliber handgun, at the scene of the incident. The autopsy results indicated that Guzzardo and Hoole died sometime Wednesday morning.
Sheriff's Department investigating two deaths in Westmoreland
Aug. 6
Town of Westmoreland (WSYR-TV) - The Oneida County Undersheriff says his department is investigating the deaths of a man and a woman at a home in the Town of Westmoreland. Both deaths appear to be suspicious, according to police.
"We're probing a suspicious death. They're not natural deaths," said Oneida County Undersheriff Peter Paravati.
Deputies and the department's criminal investigation team are on the scene at a property located along Route 26.
At 9 a.m., the police responded to calls regarding the welfare of David Hoole, 41, and Lisa Guzzardo, 45. Pavarti says several "concerned persons" reported that they had not heard from the deceased individuals for "a day or two."
When deputies investigated, they found both residents dead.
There has reportedly been a history of violence at the home, though the relationship between Hoole and Guzzardo remains unclear.
According to neighbor Terry Brundage, the couple had occasionally quarreled loudly, but never in a way that foreshadowed Thursday's discovery. "I heard them get loud once in a while with each other," she said. "I'm very shocked. You just don't expect this. You just don't expect this. Not this close to home.".
Neighbor Bill Weber said he was also stunned, adding that he had been close friends Hoole. "I was very shocked and I'm very saddened because he was a good friend of mine," Weber said.
Stay with 9WSYR.com for updates.
