Major Bradley Kinser, 44, a former strategic intelligence research officer for US Army Africa, and his Russian-born wife, Leila Kinser, 40, were both former soldiers who had spent a stint at the US military base in Vicenza, located around 70 kilometres west of Venice.
Their bodies were discovered by a priest at the military complex, who visited the couple’s home on Monday afternoon after growing concerned that Boston native Kinser had failed to respond to his phone calls.
The priest had become close to Mr Kinser — who revealed to him that he was depressed — and reportedly said he would take his own life “sooner or later,” according to Italian media reports.
The victims were found in separate rooms at their house in Pozzoleone – a small town with a population of around 3,000 – where the Mr Kinser had been working as a contractor.
Local authorities suspect that the couple died in a murder-suicide.
It’s believed that Mrs Kinser had likely been strangled to death on Easter Sunday, before her husband killed himself either the same or following day.
Mr Kinser reportedly left a note written in his own blood on the bedroom door saying, “Sorry.”
He drew a heart followed by the word “you”.
A public prosecutor has opened an investigation into the deaths.
