When a family member begins to display odd behavior, or “red flags,” it’s never a bad idea to alert someone. Laurence Caulfield, 75, gave an out-of-state female relative something to worry about when he sent her a package containing financial documents, a will, a life insurance policy, and an ominous letter.
“The way it’s been written is a concern, a strong concern.” According to the relative, she hasn’t spoken with Caulfield in several months. Caulfield’s troubling letter revealed that his wife, Gail, had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and that he was not coping well emotionally or physically. “He also has guns in the house, and I’m concerned.”
Police made their way to the Caulfield home in Deltona, Florida to check on Gail’s wellbeing. Upon arrival, they learned that Gail wasn’t at home. Caulfield told deputies that he had moved Gail to Kansas City in order to live with friends of the family. When asked how to contact her, Caulfield told them to contact his daughter in New Jersey. She had the information they needed.
Caulfield retreated to his home while the deputies returned to the station and called his daughter. But when they spoke to her, she said she didn’t know anything about her mother being moved to Kansas City. Concerned, she called her father herself, who told her that Gail was asleep in their Florida home.
Deputies returned to Caulfield’s house and knocked on the door, but no one answered. Instead, deputies heard gunfire from the rear of the house. They entered the residence only to find Caulfield with a shotgun by his side and a gunshot wound to the head. He was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11:30 pm.
Deputies searched the residence for any sign of Gail, but she was nowhere to be found. What they did find, however, was a note from Caulfield. In the note, he confessed that he killed Gail and buried her in the backyard.
Shortly after, the remains of an elderly female were found in the backyard of the Caulfield home. An autopsy revealed that she had died from a gunshot wound. Her identity has not been proven, but the Volusia Co. Sheriff tweeted: “Will work w/ medical examiner to establish positive ID, but no reason to believe it’s anyone other than the wife of Laurence Caulfied.”