Authorities Investigate Possible Murder-Suicide

Police were called to a house at

216 West Davis St.

at about 2:30 a.m. Thursday, where they found the bodies of Jerri Couch Langley, 45, and Ronald Keith Barbour, 46, both of Smithfield.

Smithfield police said Thursday afternoon that Langley was found in a sport utility vehicle outside the house and that Barbour was found inside the house.

Langley's family told WRAL Thursday morning that she and Barbour, who were dating, both lived at the house and that they worked together at Atlantic Steel. They also said that they believe Langley is a victim of a murder-suicide, but investigators were not ready to confirm or dismiss anything.

"I can't rule it in our out conclusively at this point in time," said Capt. Bruce Gentry, of the Smithfield Police Department. "I'll just say we're not looking for suspects at the moment."

Gentry did say that both of the victims died of gunshot wounds and that investigators recovered a handgun at the scene.

Police, as well as Langley's family, said they were unaware of any domestic problems that the couple may have had.

Both victims' bodies were transported to the Office of the State Medical Examiner for an autopsy.