Taxi firm boss and his wife die in suspected murder-suicide
A British taxi firm boss and his wife have died in a suspected 'murder-suicide' in the US.
The couple, named Carl and Kathy Ashcroft, were both found with gunshot wounds at a property in Rancho Mirage, California, on Sunday, November 12. Police said they responded to reports of an 'attempted suicide' at the home where they discovered an injured man and woman.
Carl was pronounced dead at the scene while American Kathy died after being rushed to a local hospital. Riverside County Sheriff's Department said the case was now being investigated as a 'murder-suicide' and insisted there was no threat to the wider community. Police did not confirm the identities of the couple.
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Sergeant Mike Kelleher said in a statement: "On November 12, 2023, at about 2.15pm, deputies from the Palm Desert Sheriff Station responded to a report of an attempt suicide at a residence on Lyon Street, in the city of Rancho Mirage. Deputies arrived within minutes and located a male and a female with gunshot wounds. The male victim succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
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"The female victim was transported to a local hospital and succumbed to her injuries. Deputies secured the area as a crime scene, and investigators from the Palm Desert Sheriff Station responded. The Central Homicide Unit also responded and assumed the investigation. This case is being investigated as a murder-suicide. There are no outstanding suspects, and there is no threat to the community."
Carl, from Wigan, Greater Manchester, owned PemTaxis, a successful cab firm based in the Pemberton area of the town. The couple had lived together in the UK before moving to the US. It is understood the pair had been planning to return to Wigan.
Rancho Mirage has been nicknamed the Playground of the Presidents and Golf Capital of the World (AP)Nicknamed "Playground of the Presidents" and "Golf Capital of the World", Rancho Mirage is a picturesque city lined with palm trees, with a population of 17,218. Its past residents have included Hollywood film and music legends including Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope and Dean Martin.
Following the news of their deaths, their former tenants, Dave and Joanne, who run a garden store, Mowertec, in Wigan, paid their respects to the "lovely" couple. Joanne said: "We were saddened to hear the news this morning. They were a lovely couple, and we are saddened to hear what happened. Our thoughts are with their family."
Dave added: "They were our landlords from about 2018, and then they sold up and left six months ago. I didn't know they had gone to live in America. But they used to go on holiday there. Carl was high up in the taxi business. Kathy used to speak to us, and she was very, very nice. It was really sad to hear."
Shocked friends and loved ones also shared their tributes to the couple on social media. One wrote: "Rip Kathy still ain't processed what's happened thinking of Fallen (daughter) and grandchildren u didn't deserve this brightest star in the sky.
Another added: "RIP Kathy and Carl, I'm in shock, can't believe it, no idea what went wrong, but hope Fallen and the Grandchildren will be ok, sending lots of love xx." A third simply said: "Rip both Carl & Cathy. Thinking of their family."
While another penned: "Shocking!! RIP both of you."
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