That's the ruling of the state medical examiner's office, Toccoa Police Chief Tim Jarrell said Wednesday evening.
Jarrell identified the deceased as Ernest Farren Mitchell, 51, and Selena Dianne Mitchell, both of Toccoa. He said the two were husband and wife.
"He shot her and then shot himself," Jarrell said. "We are still investigating and attempting to find out why it happened."
Earlier in the day Wednesday, Jarrell had released more details about the investigation into the deaths.
"We received a call at 12:12 p.m. Tuesday to Building 42, Apt. 102 at Andrews Court Apartments on Andrews Court," Jarrell said. "We were called to come there for a welfare check. A family member had come by to check on the occupants of the residence and officers responded also."
Jarrell said officers checked around the outside of the apartment unit's perimeter. The apartments are located in a duplex unit near Toccoa Ford on Currahee Street.
"The apartment was secure," Jarrell said. "No one would answer the door when knocking the door. While looking in the window, they were able to see someone lying in the floor."
"We actually had to force our way into the apartment," Jarrell said. "When the officers made entry into the apartment, there was a clear indication to the officers that these deaths were not of a natural cause."
Jarrell had said it appeared the incident was contained to the apartment in the duplex near Toccoa Ford on Currahee Street.
"I can tell you that we did not find any sign of forced entry into the residence," Jarrell said.
The Mitchells' bodies were sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation State Crime Lab for autopsies, with those results being given to the Stephens County Coroner's Office late Wednesday afternoon..
"There was other evidence that was collected at the scene and it, too, was taken to the crime lab," Jarrell said.
"We're not sure at this point how long they had been there," Jarrell said. "We're trying to narrow down the timeframe as to when the last person had contact with either one of them, so we're still interviewing people."
Toccoa Police Department requested and received assistance from GBI Region 8 and its crime scene unit. The Stephens County Coroner's Office also was involved in the investigation.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2013/6/262486