A shocking incident has left a community in Central Texas reeling after a husband and wife were found with gunshot wounds in their home on Monday. John Werner, 67, a retired sportswriter for the Waco Tribune-Herald, and his wife Karen, 65, a retired teacher, were discovered by officials with the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office.
According to reports, John Werner called 911 around 3 pm on Monday, requesting police assistance at their home on Brazos Oaks Drive in the Chalk Bluff area near Waco. Upon arrival, officials found the couple injured with gunshot wounds to the head. A suicide note and a .22 caliber handgun were recovered from the scene.
Initially described as a double shooting, the incident is still under investigation by authorities. The couple was transported to a nearby hospital, where they were listed in critical condition on Tuesday. Unfortunately, both John and Karen Werner succumbed to their injuries on Wednesday.
McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara described the couple as “good people” in an interview with KXXV 25 News in Waco. John Werner spent 41 years writing for the Tribune-Herald, meeting his wife Karen just weeks after starting his job. They married in 1985 and shared a love for hiking. The couple had planned a five-week vacation to the Pacific Northwest upon John’s retirement in August 2023.
As Werner approached retirement, he reflected on his career highlights in an interview with KCEN News in Waco. He recalled the Baylor University men’s basketball team’s NCAA National Championship win in 2021 as a standout moment. However, he also noted that being away from his wife for an extended period during the title run was difficult.
The community is still grappling with the news of the tragic incident, and officials continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the couple’s death.