A "mercy killing" is how Lehigh Valley Hospital officials describe the murder-suicide inside a hospice unit Tuesday afternoon.
Authorities say an elderly man shot and killed his terminally ill wife and then committed suicide inside her 4th floor room. Hospital staff reported hearing two gun shots. When they went into the room they found 83-year-old Mildred Osman dead in her hospital bed and the body of her husband, 86-year-old Elwood Osman.
"It's a love story" said James Geiger, senior Vice President of the hospital.
"The elderly gentleman could not bear to see his wife suffering, and the family, I believe, have observed that he just could not envision living without her."
Patients were still coming in and out of the hospital shortly after the shooting.
The facility was never evacuated because officials said no patients or staff members were harmed or threatened.
"They didn't say anything to us" Elsa Reyes, who had a doctor's appointment about an hour after the shooting, told FOX 29.
Reyes and many other patients had no idea there was a shooting until they saw the crowd of TV news trucks outside. Some raised concerns about security and metal detectors.
"I feel scared to come to the hospital. You know there's no security. I feel so sad for them" said Reyes.
The Osmans lived in the quiet Cherryville community of Northampton County. Neighbors say the couple was rarely seen, except a few weeks ago when an ambulance came to take Mildred to the hospital.
"I couldn't believe this happened so close to my house. A couple doors down. I heard she had cancer and was terminally ill" said neighbor Mark Flanagan.
It is not known if a note was found. An autopsy on both bodies is scheduled for Wednesday.
Monday, May 20 2013 1:25 PM EDT2013-05-20 17:25:38 GMT
A text message that says "I'm about to leave" is the last time Janet Royer had contact with her son Thursday night. "It's like a nightmare, it's the worst nightmare anyone can think of. I keep thinking
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Police in Lancaster County are searching for two suspects after a woman called 911 from the trunk of a car to report that she had been abducted by strangers.
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Brides are eager to take the last name of their husband after they tie the knot. Recent studies show that only 18% of women are interested in keeping their maiden names- which is down from a record high
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Appoquinimink High School officials say a gym teacher and head baseball coach is on administrative leave and barred from contact with students after an arrest on indecent exposure charges.
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Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:00 AM EDT2013-05-21 14:00:09 GMT
It feels like summer out there. We're expecting milder temperatures than yesterday: highs in the mid 80s. Just like summer, it'll be humid, with a chance of a few spotty showers during the day.
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An ugly business stained with sex, drugs and violence is exploding on the Internet. It's called sex trafficking, and it happens right here in our area.
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Police Authorities say an elderly man shot and killed his terminally ill wife and then committed suicide inside her 4th floor room Tuesday.
