On the morning of November 9, 2014, Gulfport police discovered the bodies of Julia Champion and her husband, Gordon Champion, both aged 80, in their home at 4737 Coronado Way. The discovery was made after a neighbor requested a welfare check due to six days of newspapers accumulating in their front yard. Gulfport Police Officer Ray Marshall responded to the call and entered the property through an unlocked door, where he found the elderly couple deceased from apparent gunshot wounds.
The
initial investigation by Gulfport Police suggested that the incident was a murder-suicide. Public Information Officer Tom Woodman stated that all leads pointed towards this conclusion. Neighbors mentioned that Julia Champion might have shown signs of Alzheimer's disease, and the police were awaiting a doctor's verification on this matter. The case remained under investigation, and the police did not disclose whether a note was left by the couple.
In addition to the couple, an elderly dachshund was found in the home and was taken in by neighbors, while a cat was found shut in a room and was taken by Pinellas County Animal Services. The Champions' son, who resides in New York, was contacted regarding the pets.
No arrests were made, and there were no suspects other than the initial conclusion of a murder-suicide. The investigation did not lead to any further litigation or law cases, as the evidence supported the theory that Gordon Champion had taken the life of his wife, Julia, before ending his own. The community was left in shock, and the case highlighted the tragic circumstances surrounding the couple's final days.
