In a quiet Lawrenceville, Georgia neighborhood, the life of 82-year-old Donna Dennis came to a tragic end in what authorities have described as a murder-suicide. On Saturday, September 23, 2017, family members discovered the bodies of Dennis and her 57-year-old son, Mark Knox, inside their home on Bishops Lane. Both had sustained fatal gunshot wounds.
Concerned after not hearing from them, a family member went to the residence to check on their welfare.
Peering through a back door, the relative made the grim discovery of Knox's body and immediately contacted Gwinnett County police. Upon their arrival, officers entered the home and found Dennis also deceased.
Investigations by the Gwinnett County Police Department revealed a history of domestic disputes at the address. Family members reported that Knox had a history of addiction and had been living with his mother for over two decades since a suicide attempt 22 years prior. His sister, Susan Gonzalez, expressed that she had feared her brother due to his threatening behavior. The ongoing domestic issues had recently led to the involvement of the state Department of Human Services.
The preliminary investigation led authorities to believe that Knox shot and killed his mother before turning the gun on himself. The case was investigated as a murder-suicide, and as such, there were no arrests made or other suspects sought in connection with Dennis's death. The incident left neighbors and family members shocked and saddened by the violent culmination of a troubled domestic situation.
