SALEM, Ore. — Polk County Sheriff's deputies found two people dead in a home just west of Salem's city limits Tuesday afternoon.
The sheriff's office received a call around 10 a.m. from a concerned citizen that Rick Jackels, 59, and Suzanne Jackels, 57, had not been seen at work for two days.
Deputies arrived at the home on the 3100 block of Lakeview Drive NW near Glen Creek and Doaks Ferry roads and found them dead in the home, according to Polk County Sheriff Mark Garton. The pair had been dead for some time.
An autopsy on Wednesday confirmed Rick and Suzanne Jackels both died from a gunshot wound. Garton said there is no evidence of any other suspects and the community is not in danger.
Close friends of the couple were shocked to hear the news of their deaths.
Nettie Morris and her husband knew the couple for years. “Happy, full of life. Totally unexpected they vacationed all the time, they got along beautifully, they were very giving people,” said Morris.
Morris said the couple often hosted parties and would love to go to Monday "taco nights" with friends. She says the couple would drive all the way from Salem to Vancouver to be with friends.
“I’m just shocked,” she said “I mean, the network of friends started contacting one another.”