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Elderly couple's deaths probed as murder-suicide

CORAOPOLIS, Pa. — Authorities in western Pennsylvania said the deaths of an elderly man and his wife are being investigated as a murder-suicide. 
 
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office identified the two as 82-year-old Donald Whiteside and 82-year-old Nancy Whiteside of Moon Township. 
 
Lt. Andrew Schurman said their son, who lives across the street, found their bodies shortly before 3 p.m. Tuesday.
 
Township police Chief Leo McCarthy said officers found a note that was presumably left by the husband for police. 
 
Officials said the man had been caring for his ailing wife, who had dementia, for several years, and investigators believe he killed her before taking his own life.
 
Channel 11 found resources for families who are caring for dementia patients.
 
The Alzheimer's Association suggests early and ongoing support for those with dementia.
 
"There are support groups and adult day care centers, where a person with dementia can go during the day for engagement or interaction, giving the caregiver a chance to take care of themselves or anything they have to do," said Suzanne Weessies of the Alzheimer's Association.
 
The Medical Examiner's Officer said Nancy Whiteside's cause of death was strangulation and Donald Whiteside's cause of death was asphyxiation.

WPXI

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