Deaths of man, woman possible murder-suicide

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UPHAM (AP) — The deaths of a man and woman whose bodies were found in their rented home near Upham are being investigated as a possible murder-suicide, McHenry County authorities say.

Nolan Hett and Julie Lawless were found dead late Friday night by friends.

McHenry County Sheriff Marv Sola said the case is being treated as a domestic violence incident.

"They had obviously died of gunshot wounds," Sola said. "Right now it looks like a suicide and a murder."

Sola said Lawless was shot in the stomach and the leg and Hett was shot once in the chest. Both were 38 years old. A shotgun was found at the scene.

Authorities have not said who they believed used the gun.

Autopsies are being conducted in Bismarck.

Authorities said Hett and Lawless had gone to a bar near their home Friday night, where others saw no signs of problems. Later that night, authorities said, Hett called a friend, and the call led to a check of his home and the discovery of the bodies.

Hett was reported to be a railroad employee who had lived in the Upham area about 10 years. Lawless was a home health worker who moved to the area later.

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