COLUMBUS, Ohio — A quiet Columbus neighborhood is reeling after authorities confirmed the deaths of Ashley Messner and Shaun Stevens in what investigators are calling an apparent murder-suicide.
Police were called to a residence late Tuesday after a request for a welfare check. Officers found Messner and Stevens deceased inside the home. According to the Columbus Division of Police, preliminary findings indicate Stevens fatally shot Messner before taking his own life.
The Franklin County Coroner’s Office has confirmed both deaths and said official causes will be released following autopsies. No other individuals were harmed, and police say there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Neighbors described shock and sadness as word spread through the community Wednesday. Those who knew Messner remembered her as kind-hearted and caring. “Ashley had such a bright smile,” said a neighbor. “It’s hard to understand. We’re heartbroken for her family.”
Stevens and Messner’s relationship to one another has not been officially detailed by police, who cited the ongoing investigation and respect for family privacy.
The deaths have left friends, family, and neighbors grappling with grief and unanswered questions. Detectives with the Columbus Police Homicide Unit are continuing to investigate the circumstances leading up to the incident.
Columbus Neighborhood Grieves After Ashley Messner and Shaun Stevens Die in Apparent Murder-Suicide
