A retired U.S. Army major found dead in an apparent murder-suicide in Italy was suffering from depression, a source close to him said.
Major Bradley Kinser, 44, a former strategic intelligence research officer for U.S. Army Africa, and his Russian-born wife, Leila Kinser, 40, were found dead in their home near Vicenza Monday, Stars and Stripes reported.
Leila Kinser — who was found in the couple’s bedroom — appeared to have been killed either by strangulation or suffocation. There were no signs of trauma to her body, according to Italian media reports.
Italian Carabiniere said it appeared that Boston native Bradley Kinser first killed his wife and then slit his own throat.
Multiple stab wounds were found on his body, including on his arm and neck. Authorities said he wandered around the apartment before fatally stabbing himself in a bathroom, where he was found slumped in a pool of blood, Corriere del Veneto reported.
Bradley Kinser retired from the army in 2015 and worked as a contractor for a “Solder for Life-Transition Assistance Program” called Inverness Technologies Inc., according to Stars and Stripes.
The priest from the local military command became concerned when Bradley Kinser stopped returning his calls.
He had become close to Kinser — who revealed to him that he was depressed — and reportedly said he would take his own life “sooner or later,” according to Italian media reports.
Military police went to the couple’s home and rang the doorbell — but there was no answer.
They broke down the front door to find the couple’s lifeless bodies in different rooms.
Leila Kinser was found dead in bed. A doctor who examined her said she had likely died 24 hours earlier. The doctor said Kinser could have suffocated his wife by placing his hands over her mouth, Corriere del Veneto reported.
Leila Kinser had been active on social media up until her death. She took to Facebook on March 31 to share that her beloved pet turtle, named Mashka, who is pictured in a number of photos, had died.
“I don’t have any more my Mashka I want to die,” she wrote.
Bradley Kinser left a note written in his own blood on the bedroom door saying, “Sorry.” He drew a heart followed by the word “you.”
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