Deaths ruled murder-suicide

THOMASVILLE -- Preliminary autopsy reports confirm what investigators thought brought about the deaths of a woman and her daughter.

The bodies of Wendy Armstrong, 36, and her daughter, Madeline Marie Armstrong, 9, were found during predawn hours Friday, Sept. 10, in a van parked at the Boston Police Department.

Each had sustained a gunshot wound.

Preliminary autopsy reports from the state crime lab show the child died from a gunshot wound to the left side of her head.

The mother died from a gunshot wound to the upper chest, Thomas County Corner Sam Brown said Friday.

Preliminary autopsy reports were received Thursday. Autopsies were performed in Atlanta.

"It's been ruled a murder-suicide," the coroner said.

From all appearances last week, the woman had shot her daughter, then herself, as they sat in a Town and Country van.

The Armstrongs were returning to their Thomas County home from a trip out of state when the deaths occurred. Both were wearing seat belts.

A police officer on routine patrol found the bodies about 3 a.m. The van had not been parked at the police station on North Main Street between 1 and 1:30 a.m.

The time frame for the deaths is between 1:30 and 3 a.m.

"That's as close as anybody's going to get except God," Brown said.

Projectiles removed from the bodies were from a 9-mm firearm. A 9-mm pistol was found in the van. Investigators think Wendy Armstrong purchased the weapon.

Pascal Autrey, Thomas County Sheriff's Department investigator, said Friday he has not seen autopsy reports.

Until all reports have been received by the sheriff's department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the investigation will remain open, Autry said.

The child was a popular student at Jerger Elementary School. She was described as a friend to fellow pupils and someone with whom many students interacted socially after school hours.