VANCOUVER, Wash. -- Police were investigating the deaths of a man and woman in the area of SE 30th Way and 196th Ave, just north of Washington State Road 14.
A neighbor in the area called 9-1-1 to report that a child had arrived on the doorstep just before 2 p.m. Wednesday and said two people across the street "were not moving."
The neighborhood is a relatively new subdivision near the Vancouver-Camas border.
Kyle Epley, 47, and his wife Erin, 34, were identified as the deceased. The bodies were discovered by their own 5 year old daughter when she arrived home from school Wednesday afternoon. After seeing the bodies she ran to a neighbor for help.
Erin Epley died of multiple gunshot wounds, Kyle Epley died from a gunshot to the head, medical examiners ruled Thursday.
A gun believed to have been used in the crime was also found, police said.
A Vancouver police spokesperson told KGW the deaths appeared to be a murder-suicide.
Court records show Erin Epley had filed for divorce back in April. Neighbors say Erin lived in the neighborhood with her daughter and the father had moved out.
The child was staying with relatives in the area who asked not to be identified.
They told Newschannel 8 they will do whatever it takes to get the little girl through this horrible tragedy.
Eric Brewers is a neighbor whose son rides the bus with the little girl every day.
"It's just a selfish act on his part," said Brewers. "Just unthinkable, I mean if you're going to do something to yourself that's one thing, but to leave something like that for a 5 year old to see is beyond horrible."
In Oregon, authorities have investigated 12 murder-suicide deaths in the past two months.
