Gail Caulfield, aged 75, was found dead on May 10, 2017, in Deltona, Florida. The cause of her death was a gunshot wound. Gail had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease, a condition that significantly impacted her and her family's life. Her husband, Laurence Caulfield, also 75, was identified as the person responsible for her death. He shot Gail and subsequently buried her body in their backyard.
Laurence initially claimed that Gail had moved away, but later, he took his own life, leaving behind a note that revealed the truth about her death.
The tragic sequence of events began when a concerned relative received a disturbing package from Laurence. The package contained a letter explaining Gail's Alzheimer's diagnosis and Laurence's struggles in coping with the situation. It also included the couple's will, life insurance policy, financial information, and contact details for their doctors. Alarmed by the contents, the relative contacted the police, who then went to the Caulfield residence to check on Gail's welfare.
When the police arrived, Laurence told them that Gail was staying with friends in Kansas City. However, further investigation revealed inconsistencies in his story. The police contacted the couple's daughter, who confirmed that she had no knowledge of her mother being in Kansas City. As the police pressed Laurence for more information, he became increasingly evasive. Eventually, the police returned to the Caulfield home and, upon hearing a gunshot, found Laurence dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the backyard.
A search of the property led to the discovery of Gail's body, buried in the backyard. An autopsy confirmed that she had died from a gunshot wound. The investigation concluded that Laurence had killed Gail and then taken his own life. There were no further arrests or suspects in the case, as Laurence's suicide effectively closed the investigation. The case was classified as a murder-suicide, with no additional litigations or legal proceedings following the conclusion of the investigation.
