MADISON TWP. - A couple who had been having marital problems died in what appeared to be a murder-suicide, police said Monday.

        Gary J. Couch, 40, and his wife, Mary, 41, were found dead in a living-room area of their home in the 2100 block of Middletown-Eaton Road just before 11 a.m. Monday.

        Both were victims of apparent gunshot wounds, and two guns were taken from the home, authorities said. Investigators said they think the couple died sometime after 5 p.m. Sunday.

        Mrs. Couch worked at Teleco-Cincinnati with her sister, who became concerned when her Mrs. Couch failed to report to her job Monday, said Detective Monte Mayer, sheriff's spokesman. Mrs. Couch's sister, whose name wasn't released, went to the couple's house to investigate. When she saw the couple's vehicles both in the driveway, the sister knew something was amiss and called police, Detective Mayer said.

        A deputy who came to investigate found the couple's bodies. Autopsies are scheduled for today.

        Evidence at the scene seemed to indicate that Mr. Couch had been the aggressor, said Butler County Sheriff's Maj. Anthony Dwyer. He said investigators had been told that the couple was separated.

        However, a check of county court records turned up no cases involving the couple, and sheriff's records showed no sign of previous domestic trouble at the home.

        As Maj. Dwyer and other authorities worked at the scene Monday, family members arrived in at least a half-dozen vehicles, and consoled each other in the front yard.

        Mr. Couch worked as a shift supervisor at AK Steel in neighboring Middletown for the past two years, said Alan McCoy, company spokesman. “Clearly, our sympathies go to the family,” he said late Monday, adding that news about Mr. Couch's death was just beginning to reach his co-workers.

        Meanwhile, a person who answered the telephone at Mrs. Couch's workplace said the company had no comment Monday.

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