On May 15, 2020, in Newport, North Carolina, 79-year-old Caucasian female Catherine Howard Muench was found deceased alongside her 55-year-old son, Mark Andrew Muench, in a vehicle parked near the intersection of Sam Hatcher Road and Nine Mile Road. Both individuals had sustained gunshot wounds to the head and were pronounced dead at the scene.
Earlier that day, deputies from the Carteret County Sheriff's Office conducted a welfare check at Catherine's residence on Gales Creek Road
after concerns were raised about the occupants' well-being. Finding the home unoccupied, authorities soon located Catherine's vehicle nearby, leading to the discovery of the bodies.
Investigators determined that the incident was a pre-planned murder-suicide, with Catherine being a willing participant. Evidence at the scene indicated that Mark, who was in possession of a handgun and a suicide note attached to his chest, shot his mother as she sat in the passenger seat before turning the gun on himself.
The Carteret County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic event. No further details have been released regarding the content of the suicide note or any underlying factors that may have led to this decision.
