Dover couple's deaths a result of murder-suicide, AG says

DOVER - Safety officials disclosed on Tuesday that the deaths of two Dover residents was the result of a murder/suicide.

Dover Police became involved in the incident when they responded to a 911 call at 5 Palmer Driver and found Meghan Thomas, 36, and Daniel Barnes, 40, deceased.

The incident unfolded around 8:20 a.m. on Monday as Dover Police responded after a motorist said he saw what appeared to be a deceased adult in the backyard of the property, according to a press released from the attorney general's office.

Members of the Dover Police Department responded to the scene where they discovered the body of Barnes in the back yard suspended from a tree, safety officials said.

A door to the home was unlocked, and after knocking, police entered to discover the body of Thomas in the living room.

Barnes and Thomas were the only residents of the home. Autopsies were performed Tuesday on Barnes and Thomas by Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jennie V. Duval, who determined that Thomas' cause of death was stab wounds of the neck and chest and the manner of death was homicide.

Dr. Duval also determined that Barnes' cause of death was hanging and the manner of death was suicide.

The investigation into this matter will continue. No further information is expected until final toxicology reports are complete, which is estimated to take several months.