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Update: Couple killed in murder-suicide
Posted: 08.13.2009 at 1:02 AM
Tonya Brown

Tonya has been reporting stories out of the Pee Dee for 10 years.

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Read more: Local, Crime, Husband, Murder, Suicide, Blenheim, Marlboro, County, Bennettsville, Hostage, Standoff

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(UPDATE 11:21AM) - Marlboro County coroner Tim Brown has released the names of the victims killed in a murder-suicide.

Police say Bobby Henderson, 42 killed his wife, Debra Henderson, 42, and then turned the gun on himself.

NewsChannel 15 has learned through SLED that Bobby Henderson had been arrested 4 times since 2003 and was on probation for burglary at the time of the murder-suicide.

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A hostage situation ended Wednesday with the deaths of two people in Marlboro County.

Police say a man held his wife hostage for several hours before killing her and then turning the gun on himself.

Just after 3 o'clock Wednesday, scores of police officers responded to a hostage situation at a home on Ayers Road off of Highway 38 in the Blenheim Community of Marlboro County.

A state police tactical team dressed in full gear headed straight to the home in armored vehicles.

"As a result of coming up here, we contacted the State Law Enforcement Division's SWAT team, and Bennettsville Police Department's SWAT team," said Marlboro County Sheriff Fred Knight.

Deputies say a man barricaded himself and his wife inside the house and wouldn't let her go.

At one point, police could be heard on a megaphone asking the suspect to surrender.

Worried family members began to gather on the scene as news surfaced about what was happening.

Just before 7pm, a fleet of officers left the home, and more family arrived, anxious to know why deputies were leaving.

At that point, police and the coroner talked about what happened.

"This incident, as the sheriff stated, is being handled as a murder-suicide. A husband and wife, both dead, age 42 years of age," said Coroner Tim Brown.

Police say the husband shot and killed his wife then took his own life.

"It's just a tragic situation, but we're going to do a full investigation," said Knight.

The coroner plans to release the victims' names when he notifies their immediate family.