Murder-Suicide Suspected Involving Homeowner Facing Foreclosure; Reportedly Gave Up After Failed Attempts To Negotiate Workout With Lender

In Spencer, Massachusetts, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports:

• Police believe a man facing a foreclosure auction yesterday took his own life after shooting his sick wife, shooting their horse, setting fire to the home they shared and torching his pickup truck. Michael S. Khoury, 69, and his wife, Joyce M. Khoury, 66, owned the house at 19 Woodchuck Lane, which was scheduled to be auctioned at 10 a.m. A neighbor called 911 to report the house fire. When police arrived they found the burning truck in the driveway and the house ablaze.

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• A former employer said yesterday he had talked to Mr. Khoury [recently] and he said Mr. Khoury told him he was facing the imminent loss of his house — and his wife. Vincent P. Iuliano, owner of American Reclamation of Charlton, said Mrs. Khoury had terminal cancer. “He told me Joyce was real bad. He wanted to move to Florida but because of the foreclosure of the house, there was nothing left,” Mr. Iuliano said. “He could not move out. Joyce was too ill to move,” he said.

• According to Mr. Iuliano, Mr. Khoury tried to negotiate with the bank. “He tried, but they would not accept the deal, and that was last week, so he gave up,” Mr. Iuliano said. North Brookfield Savings Bank President and Chief Executive Officer Donna L. Boulanger did not return a telephone call from a reporter seeking comment yesterday.

For the story, see Couple found dead hours before foreclosure auction (Losses loomed for Spencer pair).