Prosecutor suspects murder-suicide in death of Wantage couple

Wantage - On Saturday night, an elderly Wantage man first shot his wife and then himself in what authorities described as an apparent murder-suicide. State Police found Edward Ronald Powell, 74, and his wife, Theresa Cavalieri Powell, 70, shot in their Pidgeon Hill Road home at 9:23 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13. The couple had been married nearly 50 years, and reportedly both had been suffering ill health. Edward Powell was taken by ambulance to Saint Clare’s Hospital in Denville, where physicians pronounced him dead at 10:44 p.m. Theresa Powell was brought to Morristown Memorial Hospital, where she died at 11:04 p.m. Authorities are awaiting the results of an autopsy to confirm the causes of death, state police said. County Prosecutor William Fitzgibbons said that a preliminary investigation had so far supported the view that Powell first shot his wife and then turned the gun on himself. Police found the handgun Powell allegedly used. Although Fitzgibbons declined to hypothesize about a motive for the shooting, he said that authorities had not ruled out ill health. Three years ago, the Powells had returned to New Jersey from their home in Palm Coast, Fla. to live with their daughter, Barbara Anne Outer, and her husband, Donald. Authorities confirmed that Barbara Anne Outer was at home when the shooting took place. No one at the house responded to telephone calls on Monday evening or Tuesday morning. Both Powells were born in New Jersey, Edward in Clifton, and Theresa in Paterson. They later lived in Frankfort City, N.J., and then in Palm Coast, Fla. before moving to Wantage three years ago. Edward Powell served as a senior communication technician with AT&T in Fairfield for 39 years. Theresa Powell briefly worked as a telephone operator for New Jersey Bell in Clifton. The Powells were former parishioners of St. Bonaventure RC Church in Paterson. Edward was also a member of the National Thunderbird Club, N.J. Thunderbird Club and the Space Coast Thunderbird Club in Florida. Donna Marie Snook and her husband, Richard, and Barbara Anne Outer and her husband, Donald, all of Wantage, as well as grandchildren Mark Snook, Jessica Snook, Michael Outer and David Outer, survive the Powells. Visitation was held on Wednesday, Jan. 17, from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Powell-Marrocco Funeral Home, 470 Colfax Avenue, in Clifton. The funeral was to proceed from the funeral home at 9:15 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18. A mass of Christian burial was to be celebrated at St. Bonaventure RC Church in Paterson at 10 a.m.