A Pennsylvania mother of four and her long-time boyfriend were discovered dead in what police are investigating as a possible murder-suicide after one of their children returned from a playdate and reported an issue inside the home.
Lehigh County Coroner Daniel A. Buglio identified those killed Jan. 2 as Sarah Rice, 39, and her boyfriend Greg A. Johnson, 42. Both suffered gunshot wounds to the head, although the manner of death for each remains under investigation, according to a Jan. 5 statement from the coroner’s office.
What Happened to Sarah Rice and Greg Johnson?
Bethlehem Police said in a statement that the bodies were discovered the night of Jan. 2 after an adult dropped a child off at the residence around 10:15 p.m. following a playdate. The child came back outside to alert the adult after discovering, according to police, a “serious issue had occurred inside the residence.”
Officers arrived and discovered Rice and Johnson in the basement of the home, along with a firearm. The coroner noted that Rice was declared dead at the scene, while Johnson was taken to St. Luke’s University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:39 p.m.
Two of the couple’s other children and another adult, who police said was unaware of the shootings, were also discovered inside the home and safely removed from the residence.
According to police, that adult is not considered a suspect.
Sarah Rice’s Sister Described “Unimaginable Loss”
Following the fatal shooting, Rice’s sister Janelle Rice started a GoFundMe to support the family.
“As many of you may already know, we have suffered an unimaginable loss,” she wrote. “We have lost a beloved mother, daughter, wife, and friend to a senseless act of violence.”
She described her sister’s death as a “horrific act of harm.”
“I am humbly asking our village to come together and give whatever you are able to help provide this beautiful soul with a proper farewell,” she continued, “and to ensure her three young daughters—ages 8, 4, and 2—receive the care and support they will need in the days ahead.”
Rice also leaves behind a 24-year-old daughter, according to Lehigh Valley Live.
Rice—who worked as a sales associate at an area gas station—was described by those who knew her as a devoted mom.
“She was very well loved,” friend Danielle Rau told the outlet. “Her whole life revolved around her children.”
Family and friends have said that although the couple was not married, they’d been together for more than two decades.
Police described the incident as a “possible murder-suicide” but have declined to provide any additional information.
“The Bethlehem Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division is continuing the investigation with assistance from the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force and the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office,” they noted in the statement. “At this time, there is no indication of an ongoing threat to the community.”