Beth Rumsey, Staff Writer

The bodies of Charles P. Hacker, 42, and his wife, Karen Hacker, 40, were found inside their residence just west of Milan on Monday, March 24.

Police responded to a 911 call about 4:50 p.m. on Monday, with the caller saying they believed two people could be dead inside the home. Officers from the Milan Police Department were first on the scene. Upon entering the residence, they discovered the bodies of a man and woman. Investigators from the Indiana State Police and officers from the Ripley County Sheriff’s Department also responded to the scene.

After an autopsy was performed Tuesday morning at the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office in Louisville, the victims were identified as the Hackers and both died of apparent gunshot wounds. Further investigation revealed that Charles shot and killed his wife and then turned the gun on himself. The Ripley County Coroner’s office has ruled the incident a murder-suicide based on evidence at the scene and preliminary autopsy findings. The final autopsy results will not be available for several weeks.

Although no other information regarding the incident was available at press time, some residents thought the couple had a violent relationship. They were relatively new to the area and according to neighbors “fought a lot.”

Other agencies involved in the investigation included the Batesville Police Department and the Ripley County Prosecutor’s office.

GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO Officers from the Milan Police Department responded to this home at 6342 E. County Road 300 North, just west of Milan on Monday evening, March 24 where they found the bodies of Charles and Karen Hacker, both deceased.