Eric John Garten, 58, died at a private residence in Lincoln, Nebraska, on April 13, 2019. Police found both him and his wife, 54-year-old Rachel Swetland Garten, with gunshot wounds. Investigators determined the incident was a murder-suicide: Eric Garten shot his wife and then turned the gun on himself. Rachel Garten was taken to a hospital in critical condition and died a few days later on April 16, 2019.

Officers did not seek any outside suspects after evidence pointed to Eric Garten as the sole perpetrator. Investigators recovered a large number of firearms and ammunition in the home. Garten was a U.S. Air Force veteran and a retired employee of the City of Lincoln Water System.

If anyone knew the Gartens or has information about their lives in Lincoln, please share what you remember.