LA PLATA, Md. (Sept. 26, 2008)—An 18 year-old girl and her step-father are dead after an apparent murder-suicide in Waldorf on Thursday afternoon. Investigators say Christopher George Murray, 39, of Waldorf, shot his step-daughter, Jessica Angela Murray, 18, and then shot himself. A motive has not been clearly defined, according to the Charles County Sheriff's Office.
Police say they received a call at 12:18 p.m. on Thursday from the girl's mother who police say "was concerned about the welfare of her daughter." Officers responded to the 14700 block of Cricket Court and entered the house where they found Christopher Murray with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
Officers subsequently found Murray's step-daughter, Jessica Murray, in an upstairs room with a gunshot wound. She too was deceased, say police.
Both victims were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore where autopsies will be performed.
Detective J. Elliot of the Charles County Sheriff's Office is handling the investigation.