NOCATEE, Fla. — The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office confirmed the identities of a man and a woman killed in a murder-suicide inside a Nocatee home.
The victim has been identified Lynn Michele Bender, 53, from Ponte Vedra. Deputies said Bender was shot and killed. Her death has been ruled a homicide, according to the sheriff's office.
The suspect has been identified as Simon Patrick Hanley, 60. Deputies said Hanley shot and killed himself.
Deputies said a family member and an acquaintance found the bodies of Bender of Hanley inside the home in the 200 block of Southern Oak Drive Saturday morning.
They were trying to check on the homeowner, Bender, after not hearing from her for days.
Neighbor Nicolas Romano said he had texted Bender earlier in the week to walk their dogs together.
"Maybe Thursday or Friday we would let them play together, because they really got on, so that was the last time I had any communication with her," he said. "On Wednesday."
Another neighbor, Jane Amorim, said Bender was afraid of a former boyfriend, though deputies have not disclosed the relationship between Bender and Hanley.
"But only for a brief while," Amorim said, "so I thought it was odd that he would be so attached and that is when she got the restraining order and it was clear it had gone to another level. Though I didn't ask her for details. I didn't want to pry."
Deputies believe Bender and Hanley may have been dead for days before they were found.