Two murders, suicide end a love triangle

A Zimmerman man apparently killed his wife and a man she met on an online swinger's club, and then killed himself.

By ABBY SIMONS, Star Tribune

Last update: August 20, 2008 - 11:00 PM

A Zimmerman, Minn., man shot and killed his wife and another man before taking his own life, apparently angered over their relationship that began when they met through an online swinger's club.

Gary Heald, 59, and his wife, Deloris, also known as "DeDe," 56, were found dead in their home Tuesday morning. Rory S. Zitur, 47, of Buffalo, was found dead in his home that evening, Sherburne County Sheriff's Capt. Don Starry said Wednesday.

"We learned there was a relationship [among the three]," Starry said. "They all knew each other ... through some kind of chat line."

Sheriff Bruce Anderson told the St. Cloud Times on Wednesday that the evidence suggests Zitur and Deloris Heald met through an online swinger's club, and that her husband found out about the affair.

Starry would not confirm that account, or answer any questions Wednesday.

Neighbors at the couple's immaculate home on Lake Fremont only shook their heads when asked about the deaths, recalling the Healds as neighbors they spoke to only on occasion, but who were always sure to wave when pulling out of the driveway.

Past the meticulously lush lawn adorned with lawn ornaments, wooden signs proclaimed "Welcome" and "Bless Our House" on the front porch.

Their mailbox is a large plastic fish, its mouth wide open to take in the mail.

A young woman who answered the door at the home Wednesday afternoon declined to comment.

Starry told reporters at a news conference that Deloris Heald's employer, a hospital where she was an on-call nurse, could not reach her Tuesday morning after she failed to report to work. Authorities were contacted and found nothing unusual outside the Healds' house.

"The yard was just mowed, nothing was out of the ordinary," Starry said. "Deputies made contact with family, and they decided one would respond later that day to the house."

Nearly two hours later, the Healds' son called the Sheriff's Office, reporting he found a note that said his father had killed his mother and another man.

Deputies were called to the home and found their bodies in the basement.

Deputies also found Zitur's phone number in the couple's home. By 6 p.m., Wright County deputies went to his home and found his body inside.

"We believe the evidence shows Gary Heald murdered Deloris Heald and Rory Zitur, and then committed suicide." Starry said.

According to online records, Zitur was a partner in Zieman & Zitur, which was involved in tax preparation services.

The Minnesota secretary of state's office said that Gary Heald had been proprietor of Heald Farms, of Ogilvie, a limited partnership he first registered in 1989.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Abby Simons • 612-673-4921

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