Three months ago, Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies said the deaths of a mother and her grown son, whose bodies were found in southwest Marion, appeared to be the result of a murder/suicide.
Detective Ryan Stith now has concluded in his final report that Birch Longfellow Crocker shot his mother, Kathleen Mary Callahan, and then committed suicide.
Both mother and son were shot in the head, deputies said. The bodies were found inside a bedroom in the home they shared at 16180 SW 20th Lane.
A .38-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver was recovered at the location and believed to be the weapon used in the shootings, deputies said.
At time of their deaths, Callahan was 57 and Crocker was 26, according to authorities.
During their investigation, deputies found notes indicating Callahan intended to die along with her son. Officials said the notes matched the signatures on their driver’s licenses.
Officials believe several factors, to include financial problems, contributed to the man and woman deciding to die together.