Married couple identified in East County murder-suicide

The circumstances and motivations for the murder-suicide are still under investigation.

May 28, 2024, 6:06 p.m. PDT | Update May 28, 2024 at 6:29 p.m. PDT

SANTEE, Calif. — An elderly couple died in a murder-suicide over Memorial Day weekend in East San Diego County, authorities confirmed Tuesday.

A man and woman were found dead around 11:25 a.m. Sunday in their home in the 300 block of Lantern Way in Santee, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. They were identified as David Soulner, 82, and his wife, Claire Soulner, 79.

“The autopsies in this case have been completed,” sheriff’s Lt. Michael Krugh said Tuesday. “Preliminary results indicate that the cause of death for Claire and David was a gunshot wound. Claire's cause of death was a homicide. David's cause of death was a suicide.”

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David Soulner was identified as the only suspect in the deaths, Krugh said.

“The circumstances and motivations for this crime are still under investigation,” he said.

Anyone with information about the case was asked to call the department's homicide unit at 858-285-6330 or 858-565-5200. Anonymous tipsters can call San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.