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Detectives: 3 dead in murder-suicide in Washington state

Three people are dead in Washington state in what investigators are calling a possible murder-suicide.

SAMMAMISH, Wash. — Three people are dead in Washington state in what investigators are calling a murder-suicide.

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Update 1:30 p.m. EST Jan. 16: The bodies of a couple and their adult son were found Tuesday during a welfare check at the couple's home in Sammamish. Police said the deaths were the result of a murder-suicide, but they stopped short of saying who was responsible.

>> See the latest on KIRO7.com

Authorities said the victims died of gunshot wounds and that a weapon was recovered inside the house.

Neighbors told KIRO-TV that the couple's adult son lived in the home with them and that he worked at Microsfot.

Friends and neighbors identified the female victim as Lorraine Ficken, 68. She was a realtor for Coldwell Banker Bain who was well-liked by n

"She was the sweetest woman in the world. Just so sweet," neighbor Jennifer Eiken said. "She would do anything for you. Anytime I would go outside we would have a conversation, you know, for a long time. Just a really nice, nice person."

Lorraine Ficken's husband, 72-year-old Robert E. Ficken, was the acclaimed author of several books on the history of Washington State.

Their son, 34-year-old Matt Ficken, was a longtime software engineer.

"(He) was very kind of reclusive," Eiken said. "I knew he had a great job working for Microsoft. He worked from home."

Relatives in Oregon called Sammamish police after the family's phones went unanswered for several days.

The King County Sheriff's Office said there were no recent calls to police from the home before Tuesday.

"We checked the records," Sgt. Ryan Abbott said. "(Deputies) haven't been here any time, at least recently, that we found, and aid hadn't been here, either."

Original report: According to Seattle's KIRO-TV, two men and a woman were found dead from gunshot wounds in a Sammamish home during a welfare check Tuesday. The King County Sheriff's Office described the woman and one of the men as "elderly," while the other man appeared to be in his 30s.

Authorities do not believe there are any suspects outstanding.

The house is located in the 23900 block of SE 42nd Place.

The Cox Media Group National Content Desk contributed to this report.