MCSO: Man kills wife, self

From staff reports
Published: May 4, 2008

Authorities are working to establish a timeline of events leading up to Madison County shootings that left a woman and a man dead.

A medical examiner’s preliminary report released earlier this week confirmed that Manuel Paul Nicholson Jr., 35, of Madison County, died of a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the upper torso, according to officials.

The man was found dead in the garage of his Ridgeview Road home shortly after 10 p.m. May 2, according to Madison County Sheriff Erik Weaver. His wife, Cynthia D. Nicholson, 34, of Madison County, was also found dead at the home with a gunshot wound to her upper torso, according to Weaver.

Her official cause of death is still under investigation, he said.

Law enforcement representatives are currently interviewing about 20 different friends and family members in order to determine the events that occurred during the last 48 hours of the couple’s life, the sheriff said.

Around 9:30 p.m. May 2, Cynthia Nicholson, who worked at Culpeper-based international banking business Swift, called her brother-in-law, according to Weaver.

“He stated that she said she wanted him to come over and attempt to calm Paul down,” the sheriff told The Eagle.

Once the brother-in-law arrived at the home, he saw Cynthia lying on the floor, Weaver said.

“He yelled ‘Paul’ and got no response. He could not find a phone so he drove home and called 911,” the sheriff said. Officials received this call about 9:57 p.m., eight minutes later they arrived on scene, according to Weaver.

Inside the house, authorities discovered Cynthia dead but could not immediately find Paul, Weaver said.

Authorities then located the home’s garage and called Paul’s name over a “PA” system, he said. After no response was received, officials fired tear gas into the building before entering, according to the sheriff.

Paul’s body was discovered in the garage, along with several alcohol containers, according to Weaver.

“There was a strong [alcohol] odor that came from his person,” Weaver added.

Officials are awaiting a toxicology report, available next week, to determine whether alcohol may have played a role in the incident.

The couple’s two sons, a 17-year-old Madison County High School student and a 13-year-old Wetsel Middle School student, were not at home at the time of the shooting, according to Weaver. The children are now staying with relatives.

The investigation is ongoing and Madison County Sheriff’s Office representatives are asking anyone who may have information about this incident to contact them at (540) 948-5161.