Bay County sheriff's deputies have identified two bodies discovered at a home Wednesday afternoon.

Reports say the two people found dead in Monitor Township died from gunshot wounds.

Details are limited, but police arrived at 1018 E. Midland Rd. where they found the bodies of Robert R. Burt, 51, and Michelle L. Pischel, 48. The couple were engaged to be married, according to the investigators. Burt owned Boone's Corner Store on Midland Road in Bay City.

"This is just a sad, sad situation," said Mick Huggard.

Huggard said he has known Burt for more than 20 years and can't imagine what would cause him to snap.

"He was such a nice guy," Huggard added.

TV5 has learned that the property taxes have not been paid on Burt's store since 2010. According to the Bay County treasurer's office, the property will be placed into forfeiture March 1 if the delinquent payments are not paid.

TV5 has also confirmed that the Michigan State Lottery Department recently deactivated the lottery machine inside of Boone's Corner Store because of back payments.

The sheriff, however, wouldn't discuss or speculate on this as a possible motive.  

Bay County Sheriff John Miller said that the department is treating the case as a murder-suicide, but officials are still investigating. The sheriff's department said Burt shot Pischel in the head, and then turned the gun on himself. Miller says that the Michigan State Police Crime Lab has seized evidence. Miller also says that a .380 handgun was used in the incident. 

Police said they found a letter under the man's body, but because it was stained with blood, investigators couldn't make out what was written on it.

The Michigan State Police crime lab is now trying to discern what was written on the paper. Investigators said it could take weeks before they know if the letter can be read.

WNEM.com will update this story with new information as we learn it.

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