The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Friday morning that the death of a woman and a teen whose bodies were found Thursday in a home in southeastern Dawson County has been ruled a murder-suicide.

Dawson County Sheriff’s spokesman Capt. Tony Wooten said it is believed Nina Hicks, 53, of Dawsonville, shot and killed her 14-year-old son, Dustin Hicks, before shooting herself.

Wooten said the son had severe mental and physical disabilities. The two lived in the home alone.

Deputies were called out to the home in the Biscayne subdivision off Harmony Church Road, near Ga. 400, to conduct a welfare check Thursday.

“We were contacted to do a welfare check at the residence by a family member,” Wooten said. “After forcibly having to enter the residence, two bodies were discovered by responding deputies.”