Elderly couple chose to die together, family says

A couple who had been together for more than 70 years ended their lives in a murder-suicide at the home they shared in Newfane, a small town in eastern Vermont, according to authorities and the couple’s relatives.

The bodies of Blake Prescott, 91, and Helen Prescott, 88, were found Friday by family members in their home on South Wardsboro Road, according to Vermont State Police. The state medical examiner concluded that Helen Prescott died of a gunshot wound to the torso and that her death was a homicide. Blake Prescott died of a gunshot wound to the chest and his death was classified as a suicide.

Relatives of the Prescotts released a statement through state police, which is overseeing the investigation into their deaths.

“As a devoted couple of over 70 years, who had recently experienced greatly declining health, they chose to die together as they had lived together,” the family said.

Blake Prescott was a retired physician who had written op-eds for the Brattleboro Reformer in recent years, the newspaper said. He also self-published two books, one titled ‘Love In The Wake Of Covid-19’, and the second called ‘Short Stories, Tall Tales, and Surprise Endings: An Armchair Map for Vicarious Adventure’.

Jeremiah Manion of the Globe Staff contributed to this report.

John R. Ellement can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @JREbosglobe.