Crime & Safety

Medical Examiner's Report Expected in Westbard Avenue Murder-Suicide

The victims were discovered by a family member Saturday morning.

Update, Oct. 10, 8 a.m.: A medical examiner's report which could be released Monday is expected to reveal more details about how Hong Trang Tracy Vu and Martin Sean O'Toole died.

The bodies of Vu and O'Toole were found in a bedroom in O'Toole's Westbard Avenue apartment Saturday, a unit in the Westwood Tower apartment complex.

Police continue to investigate the deaths as a murder-suicide. They have released few details about the manner of death, but said that both Two handguns and a note were found in the apartment, they said.

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ABC7 is reporting Vu and O'Toole were in a relationship. Vu was a devout Catholic who lived with her parents in Silver Spring and sang in the choir at Our Lady Of Vietnam Parish, according to ABC7.

 

Find out what's happening in Bethesda-Chevy Chasewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Original post, Oct. 8: Montgomery County Police are investigating two deaths in an apparent murder-suicide in the 5400 block of Westbard Avenue in Bethesda. 

The bodies of Hong Trang Tracy Vu, of the 10900 block of New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring, and Martin Sean O'Toole, 38, of Bethesda, were found in an apartment bedroom by police and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue personnel at approximately 11:11 a.m. Saturday.

A family member, who had not been able to contact O'Toole, a resident at the Westbard address, entered the apartment, found Vu and O'Toole unresponsive and called Fire/Rescue, police said.

Both victims had evidence of trauma to their bodies, police said.

Vu's age cannot be confirmed at this time, but police believe she is between 35 to 38 years old.

Both victims were transported to Baltimore where the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct autopsies to determine the cause and manner of death, police said.

The circumstances that led to these deaths remain under investigation. Anyone who can provide information related to these deaths is asked to call the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070.


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