It began as a welfare check.

By the time officers entered the Santa Monica home, two lives were already gone.

Nicole Rabitzsch, 47, and her husband, Hendrik Rabitzsch, 48, were found dead inside their residence on Pico Boulevard on September 26, according to authorities.

Police say the incident happened around 6:42 a.m.

Investigators now believe Hendrik fatally shot Nicole before turning the gun on himself.

A firearm was recovered at the scene.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner later identified the couple and determined that both died from gunshot wounds to the head.

But the tragedy remained undiscovered for hours.

Police were eventually called to the home for a welfare check. When officers arrived and entered the residence, they found the married couple deceased.

There was no suspect to search for.

No chase.

No immediate danger to the surrounding neighborhood.

Instead, investigators were left trying to reconstruct what happened during the early morning hours inside the home.

Santa Monica police said their investigation indicates that no other individuals were involved and described the incident as isolated. Authorities also said there was no ongoing threat to the public.

The case has left behind a series of unanswered questions about what happened before the shooting.

What led to the fatal confrontation?

Was there a warning sign that anyone could have seen?

And what happened inside the home during those final moments?

Police have not publicly released a motive.

For now, investigators’ conclusion is that the deaths were a murder-suicide — a devastating ending to the lives of a California couple that began with a routine call for help.

One quiet morning. One home. Two lives lost. And a tragedy that left an entire investigation focused on what happened in the moments before 6:42 a.m.

SOURCES
PEOPLE – California Man Shot Wife Before Turning Gun on Himself
Santa Monica Daily Press – Officials identify man in Pico Boulevard case
MyNewsLA – Santa Monica apparent murder-suicide investigation