UNION CHURCH – Jefferson County authorities say a Union Churchman killed his wife and then killed himself during an earlySaturday morning incident at the couple’s home on Highway 550.

Coroner Will T. Turner Sr. said authorities were called to thehome of Joseph and Alice Hellom at 216 Highway 550 around 3:55 a.m.Saturday. There they found the man and woman dead in the livingroom.

Turner said Mr. Hellom shot his wife once in the head with a .38snub nose revolver before shooting himself in the head. The twowere pronounced dead at the scene.

“It seemed like no struggle,” Turner said. “I don’t know whatled to the shooting.”

The Helloms’ two children, an 18-year-old girl and a 12-year-oldboy, were at home during the incident, Turner said. He said thechildren were not harmed.

Turner said the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department wasinvestigating the incident as a double homicide. Sheriff PeterWalker was unavailable for comment Saturday.

“It’s still under investigation,” Turner said.

Funeral arrangements for the Helloms were not known Saturdaynight.