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Radio show host found dead; police suspect murder-suicide

Posted at 10:29 AM, Apr 19, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-19 23:08:17-04

ROYALTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- Popular radio show host Denise Bohn-Stewart and her husband Eric were found dead Tuesday morning in their home, Michigan State Police said. They and Berrien County Sheriff's investigators were sent to their home in the 3100 block of Wyndwicke Drive after one their children dialed 9-1-1.

"Preliminarily we are calling this a murder-suicide," said Lieutenant Chuck Christensen with the Michigan State Police. "All indications at the scene and indications that we’ve gleaned from interviews indicate that that’s what this is."

Christensen said police believe Eric shot and killed Denise early this morning in their upstairs bedroom and then turned the gun on himself in the basement. Investigators recovered the handgun lying next to him. After speaking with relatives and friends, police believe marital issues may have led to the murder-suicide.

"It appears there were some domestic problems that have been ongoing and we believe that that’s probably what predicated what happened here today," said Christensen.

Denise was a morning co-host at 98.3 The Coastand formerly a journalist for WSJM and WSBT in South Bend. The radio station expressed their sadness online Tuesday morning.

Christensen said the kids are staying with a family at this time. The parents bodies are scheduled for autopsies Wednesday morning in Grand Rapids. He said police believe the murders may have been planned but stressed to the public that there's always better solutions to life's problems.

"As far as any domestic issues that you know of or that have occurred there are always domestic abuse hotlines that somebody can call to try and get help," said Christensen.

Photo from Denise and Jonny - 98.3 The Coast website

Photo from Denise and Jonny - 98.3 The Coast website