Sheriff Richard Ferguson told NEWS9 that Francis Ayers may have been upset over possibly losing his children to Children’s Services.

Ferguson said there was a meeting scheduled for Tuesday for Ayers and his wife Carol Ayers to sit down with Children’s Services regarding custody of the children.

Monday night deputies rushed to Reservoir Road, off of Washington Pike, to find 33-year-old Carol Ayers lying outside of a home dead, shot three times in the head.

Police believe her husband pulled the trigger, and then turned the gun on himself.

He is in a Pittsburgh hospital.

The Sheriff talked to NEWS9 about a possible motive in the case.

“Child Services did inform me that they were going to remove the two children and put them in the care of two relatives of that family,” said Ferguson. “I feel that could be one of the motives for making the moves they did."

Ferguson told NEWS9 that Francis Ayers is being treated for a gunshot wound to the head.

-Natalie Pasquarella, NEWS9

Previous Stories: May 29, 2007: Fatal Shooting Investigation Continues May 29, 2007: Deputy: Man Kills Wife, Shoots Himself May 29, 2007: Woman Dead, Husband Airlifted After Shooting In Brooke County