In the summer of 2015, the quiet suburban life of a Ransom Oaks Drive home in Amherst, a suburb of Buffalo, NY, was shattered by a tragic event. Inside, 55-year-old Ellen M. Zingaro was found dead in the garage of her home, having been shot twice. Her death marked a violent end to a life that neighbors described as pleasant, though not without its underlying issues.
The grim discovery was made by Ellen's family members, who had grown concerned after not hearing from her.
The investigation by the Amherst Police Department soon revealed a murder-suicide. In the laundry room of the same house, law enforcement found the body of Richard J. Dux, Ellen's 53-year-old live-in boyfriend. He had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators determined that Dux shot and killed Zingaro before taking his own life. Evidence at the scene, including bullet holes in the garage door, pointed to the violent nature of the incident. Neighbors recalled hearing sounds that they had dismissed as fireworks around 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 18th, which police believe was the time the tragedy unfolded.
As detectives delved into the case, interviewing family, friends, and neighbors, a picture of the couple's life began to form. While they were seen as good people who walked their dogs and exchanged pleasantries with those in the neighborhood, there were hints of personal problems. However, these issues had never escalated to the point of police intervention, as there were no prior records of domestic disturbances at their home. The motive behind Richard Dux's decision to end both his and Ellen's life remained elusive to investigators. With no signs of a struggle or any other individuals involved, the case was closed. The investigation concluded that Dux acted alone, leaving a community to mourn the loss of Ellen Zingaro and grapple with the sudden violence that took her life. In the wake of her death, Ellen's family released a statement thanking the community for their outpouring of love and emotional support.
