Elderly Couple Found Slain in Their Beds

RANCHO PALOS VERDES — Caretakers on Tuesday found an elderly couple shot to death in their beds in their Rancho Palos Verdes home, and authorities were investigating it as a double homicide.

The bodies were found in separate bedrooms about 10:15 a.m. in the 28000 block of Palos Verdes Drive East.

Sheriff’s Lt. Marilyn Baker said George Chapin, 87, had been shot numerous times, and his wife, Pauline Chapin, 77, appeared to have been shot once.

Baker, noting that there was no sign of forced entry, said detectives initially thought it was a murder-suicide. But, she said, “We’re investigating it as a homicide, because the murder weapon has not been located.”

Baker said the wounds did not appear to be self-inflicted. She said the victims, who had lived in the house for more than 50 years, were found by nurses who would arrive in the morning and leave at night.