David M. Cassady

Autopsy Confirms Woman Killed Husband, Self

Health Care Workers Found Bodies

December 3, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS -- A 75-year-old Indianapolis woman shot and killed her husband before taking her own life Wednesday evening, police said.

Officers were called to a home at 7429 Lantern Rd. just before 8 p.m. after two health care workers found the door unlocked and the couple dead inside, said Sgt. Paul Thompson.

Police identified the man and woman as David M. Cassady, 74, and Ruth Cassady, 75.

An autopsy on Thursday confirmed that Ruth Cassady shot her husband in bed and then shot and killed herself, Thompson said.

"It's unusual to respond to this type of call in this neighborhood," he said.

Neighbors said that David Cassady was retired from the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, where he served as a curator, and currently worked at Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis.

The school's Web site listed a David Cassady as a curriculum adviser in the museum studies department for the 2004-2005 school year, but he was not listed in the current faculty.

Police said the health care workers were at the home to perform therapy on David Cassady's arm.