Jefferson County Murder Suicide Investigation

(Festus, MO) Jefferson County Sheriff, Dave Marshak, is announcing an investigation into an apparent murder suicide that took the lives of a Jefferson County couple. A press release from the Sheriff's office alleges around 10 o'clock Thursday morning Jefferson County 911 Dispatch received a call from a man who said he hadn’t heard from two of his relatives in several days. Deputies went to the relatives’ home in the 11000 block of Argonne near Festus for a wellness check. Knocks at the door went unanswered, but Deputies were let inside by the man who’d called 911. Once inside, Deputies located 44 year old Laurie Dothage dead in her bedroom of an apparent gunshot wound. Laying beside her was her husband, 51 year old Scott Dothage, who was also dead of an apparent gunshot wound. Scott Dothage was holding a gun which is believed to be the murder weapon. No one else was injured and there are no further suspects at this time. Marshak says this appears to be an isolated incident with no threat to the public.