Dover murder-suicide deaths confirmed following autopsies

DOVER - The state Attorney Generals office confirmed on Thursday that The the Dover deaths of a husband and wife were the result of a murder-suicide.

The finding were announced after New Hampshire Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jennie Duval conducted autopsies on both individuals. Duval determined that Catherine Navish's cause of death was asphyxiation, by smothering, and her manner of death was homicide. Duval also determined that Sean Navish's cause of death was asphyxiation by suffocation and/or smothering, and his manner of death was suicide.

Police first became involved around 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday when they responded to a home on Dowaliby Court in Dover after receiving a call from a home care service asking for a welfare check. Inside the home, police found the body of Catherine Navish, 58, as well as Sean Navish, 56.

Although the investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident remains active, based on evidence gathered to date it has been determined that Sean Navish asphyxiated Susan Navish, and then intentionally asphyxiated himself.