In a quiet Fargo, North Dakota garage on a summer day, a tragic scene unfolded, marking the end of a long life. Ila Mae Lou Averson, an 85-year-old Caucasian woman, was found dead on June 2, 2018. Her death was not from natural causes, but rather the result of a gunshot wound, setting in motion a police investigation that would soon focus on the person closest to her.
The initial discovery in the garage also revealed her husband, Louis Averson, then 85, who was found with a
self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was transported to Sanford Medical Center for treatment. What at first might have appeared to be a home invasion or a violent dispute took a different turn as investigators began to piece together the events of that day. It was revealed that the couple had allegedly made a pact to end their lives together.
Prosecutors stated that the couple first attempted to die by carbon monoxide poisoning. When that failed, Louis Averson is said to have fatally shot his wife. Following this, he turned the gun on himself. While recovering from his injuries in his hospital room, Louis Averson was arraigned on a charge of felony murder in connection with his wife's death. He was accused of intentionally killing Ila, despite his claim that they had both decided to take their own lives due to her declining health.
