Mattapoisett (AP) -- Authorities have ruled that the death of a Mattapoisett couple last week was a murder-suicide.
A joint statement from the Plymouth district attorney's office and Mattapoisett police released Wednesday says 74-year-old Shirley Battistelli was strangled, while 78-year-old Joseph Battistelli died of a gunshot wound to the head.
The couple were found in their home last Thursday.
Joseph Battistelli was found in the basement and Shirley Battistelli was found dead on the first floor.
Authorities determined that Joseph Battistelli killed his wife then killed himself.