A retired Michigan police officer made a devastating statement to a 911 operator before shooting his sick wife and then himself.
William ‘Bill’ Kitzmiller and his wife Donna Kitzmiller, both 80, died Sept. 28 in a murder-suicide at their home in Grand Haven Township.
The couple had been together for 54 years and “were true partners in life,” according to their obituary.
Bill revealed the decision to end their lives after his wife’s battle with Alzheimer’s in his 8:58 a.m. 911 call to report their deaths, according to records obtained by mlive.
“I have given my wife a merciful end to her Alzheimer’s disease and now I will follow her in death,” he said.
William ‘Bill’ Kitzmiller and his wife Donna Kitzmiller, both 80, died on September 28 in a murder-suicide.
‘The front door to the house is open, unlocked. There are notes on the kitchen table with some information. That’s all. Thank you so much.’
The operator asked Bill to explain what had happened, but his response was muffled and then a gunshot was heard on the recording.
Ottawa County Medical Examiner records indicate that Donna was “shot in the head by her husband.”
Bill’s death certificate lists his cause of death as suicide from a gunshot wound to the head.
The couple met while attending Albion College and pursuing careers in public service.
Bill served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War from 1967 to 1970, then became a police officer with the Grand Haven City Police Department and retired as a sergeant after 30 years of service.
The couple had been together for 54 years and “were true partners in life,” according to their obituary.
Bill revealed the decision to end their lives in his 911 call at 8:58 a.m. to report their deaths.
Donna worked as an elementary school teacher for Grand Haven Area Public Schools, serving at Ferry Elementary, Central Elementary, and Mary A. White Elementary for 30 years.
Together they traveled the world, spent time at their family cabin on Lake Michigan, and cared for several golden retrievers and cats over the years.
About 7 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s and those cases are expected to increase to 13 million by 2050, in part due to the aging population, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Approximately one in five women suffers from the disease and one in ten men.