Authorities are investigating what appears to be the murder-suicide of an East Hall couple.

“The initial investigation indicates that the incident is domestic-related,” states a Hall County Sheriff’s Office news release Monday.

Sheriff’s office deputies were called to the scene in the 3000 block of Baker Road in East Hall around 11 a.m. Saturday. When they arrived, they found 51-year-old Timmie Meeks and his 50-year-old wife, Jimmie “Bo” Faye Meeks, dead from gunshot wounds.

“A combination of evidence located at the scene and information developed during the course of the investigation reasonably indicates that Mr. Meeks shot and killed his wife prior to turning the gun on himself,” spokeswoman Deputy Nicole Bailes said.

Autopsies were scheduled for Monday.

The area is rural, with the house just off Athens Highway near a Marathon gas station, on a road lined with modest single-family homes. Neighbors said they didn’t know the couple well.

The incident happened sometime between 11 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday.

A relative discovered them that morning.

“She could not reach them (by phone) and went to check (on them),” Bailes said.