Preliminary autopsy results: Shooting deaths of Massachusetts couple ruled as murder-suicide

The shooting deaths of a Massachusetts couple has been ruled a murder-suicide.

A Millis town worker operating on a remote dirt roadway off Rte. 115 near the intersection with Rte. 27 discovered a deceased male and female with apparent gunshot wounds Sunday morning near their motor vehicle and notified Millis Police shortly after 9 a.m., Millis Chief Christopher Soffayer and Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey announced.

Millis police responded to the area, secured the crime scene, and notified the Massachusetts State Police homicide unit assigned to the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office. Specialized State Police Crime Scene Services and ballistics personnel, and State Crime Lab Chemists joined the investigation, processing the scene and gathering evidence into the early afternoon. A gun was located below the body of the male.

According to Millis Police, police investigators have received preliminary results from the autopsies of 25-year-old Tanaia Wilkinson, and 32-year-old Michael Fischella.

While a final autopsy report may not be signed for some period, Tanaia Wilkinson’s cause of death was found to be homicide. Fischella’s death was found to be a suicide.

The couple were living together.

According to a GoFundMe fundraiser, Tanaia was described as someone who “was always there to lend a listening ear, a carefully chosen song, and whatever support she could provide to those she loved. Tanaia was an amazing person – a kind and soulful human being. She was a talented writer from a young age, and was finalizing the first draft of her novel. She had a lifelong love of nature, and had recently begun her dream career as an arborist.”