US cops probe 'murder suicide of devoted pair"

OFFICERS NAME DEAD MAN AS SUSPECT

- NEAL KEELING

A 'DEVOTED' couple are at the centre of a murder suicide investigation in the US.

Carl and Kathy Ashcroft were found with gunshot wounds at an address in California. Mr Ashcroft, the owner of a Wigan taxi company, was pronounced dead at the scene and his American wife was taken to hospital but later died from her injuries.

The incident happened in Rancho Mirage, a city in Riverside County, south east of Palm Springs.

Local police have named Mr Ashcroft as the 'suspect' in the case. He was the owner of PemTaxis in Wigan and it is understood he and his wife had previously lived in the Shevington area.

Dave Brown, dealer principal at Orrell Motorcycle Centre, had known the couple for years.