Henderson Coroner's office releases names in apparent murder-suicide

The Henderson County Coroner's Office released the names Friday morning of the married couple found dead Thursday night in what appears to be a murder-suicide.

The bodies of former Webster County residents Kyle Eastwood, 31, and his wife Laura Eastwood, 28, were found by Laura's father around 6:50 p.m. Thursday at their apartment at the Green Leaf Pointe Apartment complex on U.S. 60, according to authorities.

Henderson police said evidence at the scene indicates that Kyle shot and killed his wife with a .357 revolver and then turned the gun on himself.

While the coroner's office was releasing the identities Friday morning, Henderson police detectives were in Madisonville with the bodies where autopsies had been scheduled. A preliminary cause of death for each was gunshot wounds, and toxicology results could take several weeks, said Lt. John Nevels.

"She's been officially ruled as a homicide victim and his is suicide," he said.

Nevels said the investigation thus far indicates that the young couple had a "volatile" relationship.

"We've had a number of runs to the residence due to domestic disputes," he said.

A neighbor interviewed after the bodies were found told police that around 11 p.m. Wednesday he heard what sounded like "someone hitting something or banging something" coming from the Eastwood's residence. The neighbor told authorities he didn't call the police because it wasn't uncommon to hear the couple arguing or throwing things.

Nevels said it is believed that the couple died around 11 p.m. Wednesday.

Incidents of murder-suicide, Nevels said, generally come at the end of "abusive relationships involving physical assaults and where one person is obsessed with control over their spouse. Domestic homicides-suicides are more common in older couples in their 50s and 60s."

"There are almost always police calls and incidents of violence and threats leading up to a murder-suicide," he said.

It's uncertain how long the couple was married, but according to Kyle Eastwood's Facebook page he was wed in January of 2016.

Less than three hours before the shootings, at 8:41 p.m. Wednesday, a Facebook page for Laura Eastwood was updated with a cartoon image reading "That's all Folks!"

The intro to the page reads, "Some call me Laura, but the most important people call me momma! Happily married momma of 2."