ORLANDO, Fla. – A husband and wife in their 70s were found dead Wednesday evening inside their Orange County home, deputies said.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office said Gary Lee Pritchard, 70, and Helen Vivian Pritchard, 72, were found dead by a family member at a home on Calathea Drive.
"A relative came home and found the people dead," Orange County sheriff's spokeswoman Jane Watrel said. "When he left the home (a few hours earlier), they were alive."
The Medical Examiner's Office concluded that both victims died from gunshot wounds. Gary Pritchard shot himself, deputies said. How Vivian Pritchard was shot is still under investigation by the Orange County homicide squad.
Neighbors described the couple as very loving and said the Pritchards were always together, even walking their dog twice a day as a pair.
"They were a beautiful couple," friend of 13 years Theola Holmes said. "I would have never imagined that they wouldn't be here today."
Vivian Pritchard was very involved in the neighborhood community and always knew what was happening, Holmes said.
Neighbor Liz Chalker said she knew the Pritchards for 25 years.
"Before he became ill he was Mr. Fixit. If you needed tools or any advice on fixing anything he's the one you went to," Chalker said. "Vivian knew everyone on the street."
Deputies said nothing suspicious had been reported in the area.
"This is a very quiet neighborhood. No one heard anything," Watrel said. "We've been canvassing the neighborhood and talking to people, so that's all we have at this time."