Married couple killed in apparent murder-suicide

A married couple was killed inside a home early Sunday morning in an apparent murder-suicide now under investigation by the Hoke County Sheriff's Office. 

Officials discovered the 33-year-old Michael Rozzelle and 26-year-old Kiarah Venisee-Rozzelle unresponsive in separate rooms within the residence – both sustaining gunshot wounds. 

According to a press release, deputies were responding to a well-being check in the 100 block of Grove Walk Road when they looked through a window and saw a male body lying unconscious on the bathroom floor. 

Based on a preliminary investigation of the deaths, investigators believe this was an isolated incident with no threat posed to the public. 

Kiarah's family hopes to raise awareness of domestic violence, "especially because Kiarah was killed in October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month," they shared on GoFundMe.

Kiarah had recently graduated from surgical tech school.“Her future was bright, and her loss has left her family devastated.”