Richland Co. Sheriff Investigates Apparent Murder-Suicide

The Richland County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an apparent murder-suicide after two Madison women were reported missing Sunday night by a family member after they failed to return home after a hike at Devil’s Lake State Park. A phone ping was conducted and allowed a deputy with Richland County to locate the vehicle in the Smith and Cruson Slough DNR land, just off of US Hwy 14, near Lone Rock. The deputy located two females dead inside the vehicle. A 25-year-old woman was found with a gunshot wound and a 60-year-old woman was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Nothing else suspicious was located at the scene and there is no perceived threat to the public. The investigation remains ongoing and the names of the deceased females are being withheld at this time pending proper notification of family members. More information will be released at a later date.