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April 11, 2008

Update: Deaths of Cumberland couple a murder-suicide

CUMBERLAND -- In a major turn of events, the police chief said this afternoon that the deaths of a husband and wife whose bodies were found after a house fire yesterday were a murder-suicide.

Cumberland Police Chief John Desmarais said at an afternoon news conference that Norman Langelier, 61, shot his wife, Beatrice Langelier, 60, and then in some fashion set off an explosion or explosions in their 3,300-square-foot home at 500 Nate Whipple Highway.

The precise manner in which explosions were set off remains under investigation, but Desmarais acknowledged that it was not accidental. The cause of the fire has also not been determined.

Police said this afternoon that about six propane tanks were spread throughout the house, where police also found and removed some 40 guns.

The police chief also said that a note left on the property saved the lives of firefighters and police officers responding to the scene.

The note, propped up on a propane tank in the back of a pickup truck parked outside the house, said, according to the chief, "Firemen, please do not enter. Explosives, ammunition, gunpowder inside the house."

Norman Langelier made his own ammunition, Capt. James. P. Coyne said yesterday. The process of packing bullet casings with gun powder and primer is cheaper than buying bullets, Coyne said. As a result, there was potentially unstable material on the scene.

Earlier this afternoon, the state medical examiners office officially identified the two and gave their causes of death.

The medical examiners office said in its statement that Beatrice Langalier died from "skull fractures and brain injuries due to perforating gunshot wound to head," while her husband died from multiple blunt force injuries.

At the police news conference, Desmarais said Norman Langelier's injuries were consistent with explosions in the house.

–– projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports form Journal staff writer Mark Reynolds and Journal and projo.com staff

This morning, officials brought a device known casually as an “ammunitions cooker” to disable the bullet-making ingredients that survived the blast. Known formally as the armored ammunition detonation unit, it was brought to the location in the bed of a pickup truck. Ammunition is inserted into the device; if it’s live, it explodes in a safe environment.

The police usually transport ammunition to the unit, but in this case, they took the unit to the site because there was such a large amount of ammunition, said state police Lt. John Blessing, acting state fire marshal.

Early yesterday morning, neighbors were startled awake by the sound of explosions at the house at 500 Nate Whipple Highway. After hours of fire fighting and excavation, Cumberland police announced that they had found two bodies in the wreckage.

This morning, part of the house was still standing and excavation equipment remained on the property.

-- With reports from projo.com staff writer Brandie Jefferson

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:21 PM | Permalink

Comments

Where does the suicide come in? Did he really shoot her, but then beat himself to death?

Beats me | April 11, 2008 5:05 PM link

"Beats me," multiple traumatic injuries is medical examiner-speak for "So many things wrong we can't tell what did it."

The other thing is that blunt injuries don't necessarily mean that they were delivered by a person with a fist or weapon. Falling off a roof causes blunt injuries. So can an explosion.

EMT | April 11, 2008 6:03 PM link

This guy was mentally ill and had too many personal and emotional problems to handle, not to mention over his head in debt. This was obviously a premeditated act. No one goes out to get 6 propane tanks to blow up a beautiful home that they treasure? If he wanted to do himself in, that's one thing, but to take Bea's life in the process is an extremely selfish act on his part.It's sad that he didn't seek out help before things got so bad, but he just never trusted anyone.

J Sullivan | April 11, 2008 8:50 PM link

I used to drive by that house almost every day it was a very impressive home. It seems like whoever lived there had a lot of money, especially with the prices of the homes in Cumberland. I guess money is not everything in life and it dosen't assure you happiness.

helen | April 11, 2008 10:16 PM link

Something drastic must have happen for the husband to shoot the wife and then kill himself and have the house blow up.I guess we will never know what happened.Maybe a illness. He seemed devoted to her calling her queen bee. May they rest in peace together. God bless the family left behind left to deal with this tragedy.

sherriecluley | April 11, 2008 11:44 PM link

he didn't beat himself to death...the explosions and the fire killed him.. if you read the article, the blunt force trauma to the male was a result of the explosion.
our quiet town is certainly shocked over this event.

diane d. | April 13, 2008 6:51 AM link

I can't believe that this was murder/suicide and I hope Cumberland police are not closing the book on this. Several things bother me...firstly, why would someone burn their home and subject themselves to a firey painful death when they have 40 or more guns available? Secondly, the couple had three dogs...why try to save the lives of firemen with a note, but have no regard for your 3 beloved pets? Also, why burn the property....fires are set for insurance/arson or to hide evidence. Why would the Mr Langolier care if they found his wife if he was planning suicide also? And lastly, the blunt trauma...nothing is adding up with the info given so far.

Not Convinced | April 13, 2008 10:11 AM link

I agreee that something seems strange. If there were many guns why not end ones life as painlessly and as quickly as possible with one of the fire arms. I feel for the family. There are so many unanswered questions for them.

Scott R | April 28, 2008 4:28 PM link

April 11, 2008

Update: Deaths of Cumberland couple a murder-suicide

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