The Baxter County Sheriff's office is investigating an apparent Murder/Suicide at a residence at 37 Sharon Drive, in Rural Mountain Home.

     The victims, 46-year old Nancy Vanette Frank and 79-year old Louise V. Gipson, were related, mother and daughter.

     At approximately 3:58 PM, Deputies from the Baxter County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to Sharon Drive. Upon arrival, deputies found the bodies of two women who were deceased. The bodies were discovered by a family member who had gone to the residence to check on Ms. Gipson.

     Sheriff's Investigators were called to investigate the scene. Two letters, believed to be written by Ms. Frank, were discovered. One was discovered at the home of Ms. Frank and the second letter was discovered at the scene, the home of Louise Gipson. One of the letters written by Ms. Frank, indicated that her mother was in poor health and did not want to become a burden to her family or her children.

     A preliminary investigation leads investigators to believe that Nancy Vanette Frank first shot and killed Ms. Gipson and then shot herself. A Ruger 357 revolver was discovered at the scene with two spent shell casings.

     The bodies are being sent to the Medical Examiner's Office in Little Rock to confirm the manner and cause of death.

Sheriff John Montgomery