EVERETT — A man apparently shot his elderly aunt to death, then turned the gun on himself at their Everett home, authorities said.
The bodies of Gail M. Hope, 80, and her nephew, Gordon G. Gidos, 61, were discovered by a relative Tuesday evening, said Everett police Sgt. Boyd Bryant.
Hope died of a gunshot wound to her head, according to the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office. Gidos died after shooting himself in the head.
Hope’s death was ruled a homicide; Gidos’ death was ruled a suicide, according to the medical examiner.
The two apparently died a day or two before their bodies were found at their home in the 1400 block of Rucker Avenue, police said.
A family member who went to check on the pair called police about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
"It’s always tragic when a situation inside a home comes to this," Bryant said.
Police did not find a suicide note, Bryant said.
Gidos was taking care of Hope "and seemed to really care about her," said next-door neighbor Jennifer Fox, 38.
Gidos asked Fox’s husband, a physical therapist, for advice several months ago, saying Hope was having pain and discomfort that kept her from leaving the house, Fox said.
Gidos, a longtime neighborhood resident, was quiet but friendly, Fox said.
"He was a really good neighbor," she said. "I was totally shocked (by what happened) … It was horrible news."
Reporter Katherine Schiffner: 425-339-3436 or schiffner@heraldnet.com.
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