Winona Police Investigate Deaths Of Mother, Son
WINONA, Minn. (WCCO) -- Police in southern Minnesota made a tragic discovery inside a home in Winona. They found a woman and her son dead.
Police say 90-year-old Elnor Jean Bell lived in the home. Her 63-year-old son, John Raymond Bell Jr., was often there visiting.
They believe John Raymond Bell Jr. shot and killed himself, but his mother likely died of natural causes.
Police found their bodies on New Year's Day after a relative asked officers to perform a welfare check.
"She was an old fashioned Scandinavian person. Very warm, she used to pick bouquets of flowers for me. She was very sweet. She and her son were very close," said neighbor, Sarah Daley.
John Bell lived just two blocks away from his mother on Mark Street. Neighbors say he was a devoted son who had been caring for his mother for years. Daley thinks a broken heart caused him to take his own life.
"I'm very sad. It's very traumatic to think of such a lonely death. I wish we could have done something more to help," said Daley.
The medical examiner conducted an autopsy on Elnor Bell's body on Monday and it is believed she died of natural causes. Police say there were no signs of trauma.
Police also said they called the bomb squad to her home on Saturday after they discovered an artillery shell in the basement, but experts determined that the shell was a spent round and not dangerous.
WCCO-TV's John Lauritsen Reports
Deputy Police Chief Tom Williams identifies the man as 63-year-old John Bell Jr. and the woman as 90-year-old Elnor Bell.
Williams says the son died from a self-inflicted gunshot. Police are unsure of the woman's exact cause of death but say it does not appear to be a murder-suicide.
KAGE-AM reports there is evidence that the mother, who was in ill health, died sometime after the son. Williams says there was no obvious trauma to her body.
A relative who had been unable to contact the two for several days called police Saturday asking officers to check on them. Officers went to the home and found both bodies on the main floor.
