Toccoa Deaths Ruled Murder-Suicide

By Charlie Bauder, WNEG Radio, Toccoa

Two women found dead inside a home in Toccoa last weekend were the victims of a murder-suicide.

Toccoa Police Chief Tim Jarrell said the victims are identified as Nancy Brown Guest, 72 and her daughter, Mary Charlotte Guest, 36.  

Last Saturday, officers were called to a home on Arcadia Drive in reference after the husband, James Guest, discovered the bodies in the livingroom.

“Upon our arrival, we were directed to the living room where two females who lived in the home were found and appeared to have (each) suffered a gunshot wound,” said Jarrell.

According to Jarrell, the bodies were sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab In Atlanta for autopsy.

“Nancy Guest died of a gunshot wound and Mary Charlotte Guest died of what has been determined as a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” said Jarrell.  

James Guest, a retired major general, is not considered a suspect, according to Jarrell.  Guest was in another room in the home at the time of the shootings.

Jarrell said the weapon used was recovered at the scene close to Mary Charlotte Guest.  He said investigators are still not sure what prompted the shootings, but he said in 2009, Toccoa Police were called to the same home regarding a domestic dispute. No arrests or charges were filed in that instance, he said.

Meantime, the investigation continues. Officers are focusing on Mary Charlotte’s medical history as part of their inquiry.