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The Press Enterprise
By STEFANIE FRITH, THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
May 6, 2003
CORONA: Why a father shot his daughter to death, then himself, baffles investigators.
CORONA – A Corona man believed to have shot his daughter in the head before taking his own life was on medication for depression, a factor that may have led to their deaths last week, police said.
A memorial service will be held today in Cypress for Maurice Cloutier, 58, and his daughter, 30-year-old Carolyn Cloutier. Both were found dead of single gun shot wounds to their heads April 30.
Police said Cloutier shot Carolyn Cloutier first while she was lying in bed inside their Citrocado Rancho Street home and then shot himself. They were found by officers after their employers called to say they had not shown up for work.
“We are dumbfounded,” Sgt. John Rasso said. “We are not sure why he did this.”
Cloutier left behind a suicide note, which police said they haven’t figured out. Rasso said there was nothing in the note explaining why the shootings took place.
Cloutier was taking medication for depression, Rasso said. His wife, Lucille, had died of cancer in November. A son, Ron, lives in Texas.
“We are not sure if that had a connection,” he said. “Maybe.”
Neighbors and friends said they were shocked by the news. Cloutier worked for AT&T Wireless, where a co-worker said he had left his desk as if he was coming back the next day. Carolyn Cloutier worked at a restaurant at Disneyland.
“Her biggest dream was to get married and have children,” friend Karen Allers said. “I’m sad that never happened for her.”
Reach Stefanie Frith at (909) 893-2114 or >sfrith@pe.com