Murder-suicide autopsies: 3 died of gunshot wounds

A Zimmerman man believed to have killed his wife and a man they met through an online swingers club and then himself.

By ABBY SIMONS, Star Tribune

Last update: August 22, 2008 - 7:10 AM

Sherburne County officials continued Thursday to interview friends of a Zimmerman man believed to have killed his wife and a man they met through an online swingers club and then himself.

An autopsy conducted by the Ramsey County Medical Examiner revealed Thursday that Gary Heald, 59, shot himself to death and that Deloris (DeDe) Heald, 56, of Zimmerman also was killed by gunfire. Autopsy results for Rory Scott Zitur, 47, of Buffalo, have not been released, but investigators have said that all three were shot to death.

Sherburne County Sheriff's Capt. Don Starry said Thursday that interviews are still being conducted with those who knew the Healds, and that once the investigation is complete, more information could be released regarding Zitur's relationship with the Healds, and the "chat line" where they met.

"It should be part of the information that comes out," he said. "Though a lot of that specific stuff had already come out."

Lt. Todd Hoffman of the Wright County Sheriff's Office declined to answer questions about the circumstances of Zitur's death or his connection to the couple because the investigation is ongoing. He indicated that investigators believe Gary Heald killed Zitur.

Deputies went to the Heald home on Lake Fremont on Tuesday morning after Deloris Heald, an on-call nurse, didn't report to work. When they found nothing amiss, they asked the couple's son to check on the home. Two hours later, the son found a note from Gary Heald that indicated he had killed his wife and another man. Investigators then returned to find the Healds' bodies in the basement of the house. In a search of the house they discovered Zitur's phone number. Wright County authorities went to Zitur's home in Buffalo, where they found his body.

The Healds, who formerly farmed outside Ogilvie, are survived by three children and three grandchildren. Zitur, an accountant with Zieman and Zitur Accounting in Monticello, is survived by three children.

Abby Simons • 612-673-4921

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