Elderly Springville couple in murder-suicide case ID'd

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Department has identified the Springville couple involved in a Feb. 16 murder-suicide as Benjamin Franklin Arnold, 81, and Ellen Babel Arnold, 80.

Autopsies conducted on Tuesday revealed each died of single gunshot wounds to the head.

Authorities believe the couple was in the vehicle when the man shot the woman and then killed himself. The man’s foot was reportedly holding down the accelerator, causing the engine to race for an extended period, and resulting in an engine fire, the Sheriff’s Department reports.

The couple was located dead inside the burning vehicle on Feb. 16 on Yokohl Valley Drive, near Balch Park Road. The Sheriff’s Department reported in a previous news release that the couple suffered from failing health.