Deaths of couple found in Sun City home last week ruled murder-suicide, police say
The deaths of a Sun City couple in their home last week were determined to be murder and suicide, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday.
Marcella Caravello, 69, and Robert Caravello, 71, of Bluffton, were found shot to death in their Sun City home around 7:30 p.m. March 2.
A firearm was found near their bodies by police, according to a Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office alert.
Deputies and first responders initially were called to the home after Sun City security and a neighbor went inside to check on the couple, the police report said. The welfare check took place after the couple’s daughter told neighbors she was worried because she had not heard from her mother.
The couple died sometime before March 2, said Beaufort County Chief Deputy Coroner Debbie Youmans.
A motive for the murder-suicide was not immediately available. Court records show the couple had a history of financial issues.
The couple lived on Sundance Lane in the Stratford Village neighborhood of the gated 55-plus community, according to previous reporting by The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette.
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MOREWhat to do if someone you know exhibits any warning signs of suicide:
Do not leave the person alone. Stay with them or on the phone with them to keep them talking. Remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt. Call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or the S.C. Department of Mental Health’s 24/7 crisis response line at 833-364-2274. Bring the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional.
This story was originally published March 7, 2023 at 2:11 PM.
