David Wehrle

David Thomas Wehrle, a beloved father, son, and brother known to friends as "Davey," was a lifelong resident of the Fort Wayne, Indiana, area. At 39 years old, the white male was a hardworking and dependable foreman for Tredway Pools, where he was a pool installation specialist. He had previously worked at Grabill Cabinets and Coldwater Crossing Cinemas. David attended Northrop High School and was a father to three daughters. Friends and family remembered him as a very calm and peaceful person. His life was filled with hobbies he was passionate about, including fishing, woodworking, and tinkering with RC model cars and go-carts. He also loved riding his motorcycle and made a point to visit Cedar Point amusement park at least twice a year.

The morning of Thursday, May 8, 2014, took a tragic turn when David did not show up for his job at Tredway Pools. His uncharacteristic absence prompted a coworker and a family member to go to his home in the Carroll Creek subdivision in Huntertown, a suburban community just north of Fort Wayne. They arrived around 9:00 a.m. at the residence, located in the 12000 block of Wandering Way. Inside a bedroom, they made a devastating discovery. David and a woman, 49-year-old Linette Pass, were both deceased.

The Allen County Sheriff's Department was called to the scene and immediately began what they termed a suspicious death investigation. The quiet neighborhood, known for its family homes, was suddenly the center of a police inquiry as detectives worked to piece together the events that led to the two deaths. The sense of community and safety in the suburban enclave was shaken by the grim finding.

A few days later, the Allen County Coroner's Office released its official findings, providing a somber explanation for the tragedy. The coroner determined that David T. Wehrle's death was a homicide caused by gunshot wounds to his chest. Linette Pass's death was also a result of gunshot wounds, but her manner of death was ruled a suicide. The investigation by the sheriff's department concluded that the incident was a murder-suicide, and as a result, they were not seeking any suspects in connection with David's murder.

The news sent waves of shock and grief through the Fort Wayne community and beyond, leaving friends and loved ones to grapple with the sudden and violent loss. David was survived by his three daughters, his parents, a sister, his grandfather, and a nephew. His family and friends mourned a man who was remembered for his quiet nature and his dedication to his family and work.

A funeral service for David was held on Sunday, May 18, 2014, at D.O. McComb and Sons Covington Knolls Funeral Home in Fort Wayne. Friends and family gathered to pay their respects and share memories of his life. He was later buried in Covington Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, his family requested that memorial contributions be made to an education fund established for his daughters. The case is considered closed by law enforcement, a solved homicide that ended in the death of the perpetrator. For David's family and all who knew him, the tragedy left behind an enduring legacy of loss and unanswered questions about the final moments of his life.