HARRISBURG, Pa., April 1 (Reuters) - Police were hoping an autopsy on Wednesday would confirm whether a chain saw was the cause of death in an apparent murder-suicide involving a married couple in a Philadelphia suburb.
Kevin Steele, first assistant district attorney of Montgomery County, said in a news release that the couple's 14-year-old son called emergency dispatchers Tuesday afternoon to report that his parents, whose names have not been released, appeared to be dead from chain saw cuts.
When Lower Moreland Township police went to the home, they confirmed that the husband, 48, and the wife, 43, were dead.
"The death of the female seems to be a homicide, but the investigation is continuing," Steele told a news conference.
The prosecutor said a chain saw was recovered from the scene of the deaths. None of the couple's three children, including the 14-year-old son, were home at the time.
Neighbors told local media that the couple had been married for 20 years but had been having marital difficulties recently.
The autopsy is being conducted by the Montgomery County Coroner's Office. Police said Wednesday morning that they were still not releasing the names of the couple pending notification of next of kin. (Reporting by David DeKok; Editing by Frank McGurty and Eric Beech)