Barbara Bitterman, aged 61, was found dead on May 31, 2017, in her home in Naples, Florida. The tragic incident was part of a murder-suicide involving her husband, Michael Bitterman. According to reports, Michael Bitterman shot his wife before turning the gun on himself. The couple was discovered by a maintenance worker who went to their home to retrieve the mail and check on the house, as they were supposed to have left on a trip the day before.
The Collier County Sheriff's Office
conducted an investigation into the incident but was unable to determine a definitive motive for the murder-suicide. Friends and family members mentioned that the Bittermans were experiencing marital problems, and Barbara was reportedly considering a divorce. Some family members indicated that Barbara had begun to fear her husband. Despite these accounts, investigators could not find concrete evidence to explain why Michael Bitterman decided to kill his wife and then himself.
The investigation revealed that Michael Bitterman had been planning a month-long European cruise with his wife in an attempt to repair their marriage. He had also been diagnosed with a heart condition and was planning to undergo surgery after their return from the trip. However, these plans did not provide any clear indication of his intentions to commit the murder-suicide.
The deaths of Barbara and Michael Bitterman left their family and friends devastated. Barbara was remembered as a warm and outgoing person who had a passion for life and a love for travel. Her sudden and violent death shocked both the Naples community and her hometown of Lake Placid, New York. The case was officially closed by the Collier County Sheriff's Office in November 2017, with no further leads or evidence to explain the tragic events.
