Authorities ID Minnetonka couple who died in suspected murder-suicide

Authorities have identified a couple in their 70s who died in a murder-suicide in Minnetonka last week.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office says that Patricia Ann Spitzmueller, 71, of Savage, was found fatally shot in the head in an apartment at 12201 Minnetonka Boulevard on Thursday, July 18. Her death has been declared a homicide.

Also found at the scene was Kenneth Robert Spitzmueller, 76, of Minnetonka, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

A neighbor had called police to 8:30 p.m. Thursday to say the pair had been found unresponsive, with both pronounced dead at the scene when police arrived.

According to an obituary by The Star Tribune , the couple had been married for over 50 years, and are survived by five children and four grandchildren.

Police have not yet released further information on the case.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.