Police believe an airman killed his wife at their home and then shot himself on Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, said Altus Police Chief Tim Murphy.
The Altus Times first reported on Tuesday that police are treating the deaths of Senior Airman Nicholas Schultz and his wife, Raina, as a possible murder-suicide.
On Friday Sept. 18, Altus police got a phone call from Schultz’ father that Schultz was threatening to kill himself, Murphy told Air Force Times on Wednesday.
When police arrived at Schultz’ home on Friday, no one answered the door, but they could hear a baby crying inside, so they forced their way in, Murphy said. Once inside, police found the body of Schultz’ wife.
"It appeared she had been there for several days," Murphy said.
Police found a note inside the home allegedly written by Schultz, in which he wrote that he and his wife had an argument, during which he choked her and she never regained consciousness, Murphy said.
Raina Schultz' 16-month-old son is in good medical condition, he said. The boy is currently with the Department of Human Services.
Police contacted Schultz' unit, the 97th Security Forces Squadron, to try to find him, Murphy said.
"As one of my officers is on the phone with the desk at security forces, he hears commotion in the background: 'We need medical,' " Murphy said. "At that point, we received a call of an individual who'd shot himself on Altus Air Force Base."
Schultz was found dead in building 130 of Altus Air Force Base, which is where security forces are located, Murphy said. Police discovered a second suicide note in his pocket.
"He was apologetic for what he had done and how officers had to find him," Murphy said.
