UPDATE: Autopsy report shows man in murder/suicide had several drugs in his system — (WRCBtv)

Final autopsy results, released by the Hamilton County Medical Examiner’s Office, show Steele died of several stab wounds to the head and neck. Slattery died of a gunshot wound to the head.

Toxicology results, included in the report, show Slattery had Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC),  morphine and two types of antidepressants in his system when he died. A medical examination found antidepressants in Steele’s system as well.

According to state records, Slattery and Steele were both registered nurses.

PREVIOUS STORY: Chattanooga Police have released the names of the two people involved in Friday’s apparent murder suicide in Hixson.

Police say Marcus Slattery, 44, killed his girlfriend, Deborah Steele, 58 before killing their dog and then turning a gun on himself.

Investigators tell Channel 3 they still have a lot of questions and say many of them won’t have answers until a full autopsy is completed. Police can’t say how long the pair was dead before their bodies were found. Neighbors are left to wonder why they didn’t any see signs of trouble.

“Yea it was shocking, we didn’t know what happened,” said neighbor Pat Cejka.

Officers found the crime scene at 3040 Stage Run Dr., after someone who was worried about the couple called and asked police for a well-being check.

When they arrived they found what they call obvious signs of a crime scene. Based on the preliminary evidence, investigators say they believe Slattery fatally shot Steele and her English Bulldog before turning the gun on himself.

“You don’t know what’s involved or if it’s alcohol, if somebody had a nervous breakdown,” said Cejka. “Somebody’s got to have a nervous breakdown or mental to hurt somebody else like that.”

Online records show both Slattery and Steele were registered nurses. Neighbors tell us the couple kept a busy schedule and stayed to themselves, never giving them any reason to suspect something was wrong. They can’t help but pray for both families.

“It’s a shame, so sad, life is too precious,” said Cejka.

It wasn’t only neighbors who say they didn’t see warning signs. Records show officers had never been called to the home before.

The medical examiner’s office says it will take 4 to 6 weeks to complete the autopsies. Police say their investigation is ongoing.

UPDATE: Chattanooga police have identified the people involved in Friday’s murder/suicide in Hixson.

Police say that Marcus Slattery, 44, shot and killed his girlfriend, 58-year-old Deborah Steele Friday afternoon.

The bodies were transported to the Hamilton County Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy.

It is also believed that Slattery also shot and killed their dog before turning the weapon on himself.

PREVIOUS STORY: Chattanooga Police discovered two bodies after performing a well-being check at a home in Hixson’s Stage Run Subdivision.
The call came in around 4 p.m. on Friday.

Investigators are treating the incident as an apparent murder/suicide but are still working to determine the facts surrounding the case.

Stay with Channel 3 and WRCBtv.com for more on this developing story.