Police ID couple in Newfane murder-suicide

NEWFANE, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont State Police have identified the victims in an apparent murder-suicide at a home in Newfane on Friday.

State police say they received a call just after 5:00 p.m. on Friday from relatives who reported finding two family members dead at the home on South Wardsboro Road.

Police on Monday identified the married couple as Blake Prescott, 91, and Helen Prescott, 88.

They say Blake shot Helen in the chest before turning the gun on himself.

The family issued a statement saying the devoted couple of more than 70 years had recently experienced precipitously declining health and “chose to die together as they’d lived together.”