By Police1 Staff
EMMETT TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Officials are ruling the deaths of a Calhoun County Sheriff’s deputy and his wife as a murder-suicide.
FOX 17 reported 43-year-old Deputy Mark Elferdink shot his 38-year-old wife, Hope, before turning the gun on himself June 5.
“Sunday morning’s phone call was a phone call I never expected to get,” Sheriff Matt Saxton said at a press conference. “None of us in law enforcement expect that call.”
The Elferdink’s 13-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son were hosting a sleepover at the time of the shooting, WOODTV reported. Children awoke to sounds but did not discover the bodies until the next day. Police believe the four 40-caliber shells found in the residence were not from Mark’s service weapon.
According to court documents obtained by the site, Hope had filed for divorce on May 3. Emmett Township Public Safety Director Mike Olson told the news site Hope had a new romantic interest who was also interviewed by police.
“I never saw this coming,” said Saxton. “We here at the sheriff’s office are trying to make sense of a senseless act, I’m trying to make sense of a senseless act. I’m going through a wide array of emotions, from anger to sadness. My heart goes out to the family and to those kids that are left behind.”
Mark had no disciplinary issues on his record.