Elderly Couple Found Shot Dead in Their Ohio Home Alongside Daughter’s Estranged Ex-Husband After She Warned Police He Was Not Welcome

A quiet neighborhood in Ohio was left shaken after an elderly couple and their daughter’s estranged ex-husband were found dead inside their family home. The discovery came after the couple’s daughter contacted police, warning officers that her former husband had shown up at her parents’ residence despite not being welcome there.

The three individuals, all 71 years old, were identified as Sorin Ciortan, Emilia Ciortan, and Stefan Pascu, according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Authorities were called to the home in North Royalton, a suburb of Cleveland, shortly before 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

According to the North Royalton Police Department, the investigation began when a woman contacted authorities because she had been unable to reach her parents. She reportedly told officers that she had noticed her estranged ex-husband’s vehicle parked outside her parents’ home.

The woman specifically warned police that her former husband was not welcome at the residence, raising concerns about his unexpected presence.

When officers arrived, they attempted to make contact with the homeowners but received no response. Police eventually entered the residence to check on the occupants.

Inside, officers discovered Sorin Ciortan dead in an upstairs bedroom, while his wife, Emilia Ciortan, was found dead in the dining room. Both victims appeared to have suffered gunshot wounds to the head, according to the police statement.

The discovery prompted officers to take additional precautions. Because the vehicle believed to belong to the estranged ex-husband was still parked outside and his whereabouts remained unknown, officers withdrew from the residence and requested specialized assistance.

A tactical team from the Southwest Enforcement Bureau was subsequently dispatched to search the property.

During the subsequent search, officers discovered the body of Stefan Pascu in the lower level of the home. He appeared to have suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, and a firearm was found nearby, authorities said.

Investigators believe Pascu was the individual whose vehicle had prompted the original call to police.

According to authorities, all three individuals were 71 years old. However, investigators had not released a detailed account of what happened inside the residence or established a complete timeline of the deaths.

The case has raised serious questions about the circumstances leading up to the deadly incident, particularly the reason Pascu was at the home and what occurred before officers arrived.

Police have not publicly disclosed additional details about the family’s history or the events that may have led to the confrontation.

Following the tactical team’s search, authorities confirmed that the scene had been secured and that there was no continuing threat to public safety.

The investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to piece together the final moments of the three individuals.

For the family, the tragedy represents an unimaginable loss. What began as a worried daughter’s call to police after she could not reach her parents ultimately led authorities to a devastating discovery involving three lives.

SOURCES: PEOPLE Magazine – November 11, 2026