The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner has identified the Santa Monica couple found dead Saturday inside a home in the 3100 block of Pico Boulevard as Nicole Rabitzsch, 47, and Hendrik Rabitzsch, 48, ruling her death a homicide and his a suicide.
Both died of gunshot wounds to the head, according to the medical examiner.
Santa Monica police said Hendrik Rabitzsch fatally shot his wife before taking his own life. Detectives determined the deaths were the result of a murder-suicide that occurred at about 6:42 a.m. Saturday, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.
Officers had gone to the residence Saturday to conduct a welfare check. They entered and found the couple dead, police said. A firearm was recovered at the scene.
No one else is believed to have been involved, police said. Authorities described the shooting as an isolated incident and said there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the SMPD watch commander, available 24 hours a day, at 310-458-8427.
The incident is the second murder-suicide for the city this year.
Jeremy Ferguson, director of operations and placemaking for Downtown Santa Monica Inc., and his wife, Mandy Zelinka, were found dead of gunshot wounds in April in their Venice home, according to the LAPD.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24 hours a day at 800-799-7233.