KIMMELL - Ronnie Slone, 33, Kimmell, allegedly killed his wife Margaret Slone, 37, with a single gunshot wound Wednesday, according to a Noble County Sheriff's Department press release, before setting their garage on fire and shooting himself in an apparent murder-suicide.

Margaret Slone is the daughter of Chuck Hammack, Leesburg, and Jane Hammack, Ligonier.

On Thursday, a Noble County Sheriff's Department Deputy alerted fire officals to a fire at the Slone residence in a detached garaged. Investigation into the fire revealed that Ronnie Slone was alive but unconscious in the bedroom of the couple's residence, lying next to his deceased wife. According to the sheriff's department press release, Ronnie Slone was transported to Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, where he was pronounced dead at 12:49 a.m. Friday from the self-infliced gunshot wound.

Investigators have determined the garage fire was intentionally set using gasoline, according to an Associated Press story.

The sheriff's department press release also reported that investigators determined Ronnie Slone was "despondent over financial and family matters." According to the Associated Press story, Ronnie Slone was recently laid off from a job in Shipshewana

Departments assisting in the investigation included Noble County Sheriff's Department, Indiana State Police, Ligonier Police Department, Cromwell Fire Department, Ligonier Fire Department, Noble County Coroner's Office and the Noble County Prosecutor's Office.

Margaret Slone's obituary appears on page 3A of today's newspaper. [[In-content Ad]]