Susan Sparks, 56, of Mason, Ohio, was found dead in her home on March 30, 2015, with a shotgun beside her. Her husband, Timothy Sparks, told investigators he was trying to take the gun away from her when it accidentally discharged and killed her. Investigators reviewed Susan’s medical history, which included a prior hospitalization for a prescription medication overdose, and interviewed family and friends about her state of mind. The Warren County Coroner’s office ruled the death undetermined, and a grand jury declined to indict Timothy Sparks, citing insufficient evidence to charge him with murder.

Investigators also looked into the family’s financial situation and Timothy’s fidelity, but the inquiry produced no conclusive evidence of foul play. The exact circumstances of how the shotgun discharged remain unclear, and the ruling left the family and community with unresolved questions.