Coppell Mayor Jayne Peters, Daughter Corrine Peters Found Shot to Death

COPPELL, Texas - The medical examiner now knows how Coppell's mayor and her daughter died in a tragedy that shocked the Dallas suburb.

Mayor Jayne Peters, 55, committed suicide with a single gunshot wound to the head, according to the medical examiner. Her 19-year-old daughter, Corinne, was also shot in the head, but her death is being ruled a homicide. In fact, police confirmed that the mayor shot and killed the teen prior to committing suicide.

Officers found the bodies at about 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday in the tidy home in the 700 block of Greenway Drive, after the normally punctual mayor failed to show for a scheduled city council meeting.

According to officials, the mayor's body was found on the first floor of the residence, while her daughter was located upstairs.

Investigators said the mayor left four notes at the home that were a mixture of written and typed letters. They said one posted on the front door, along with a key to the home, warned of the horrors that would be found inside.

The letters also contained instructions, they said, including some for how to care for the family pets.

Police would not say if there were any signs of struggle between the deceased.

Peters was elected mayor in May 2009 and had been a city council member since 1998. Her husband died of cancer in January 2008.

Mayor Pro Tem Bob Mahalik will take over until the November election.

SHOCK AND SADNESS

The close-knit community reacted with shock to the news of the deaths.

Mahalik said council members were stunned when they learned of the deaths.

"Everybody in the room is like, 'Did we miss a sign?"' Mahalik said. "It's hard to wrap your arms around it."

Mahalik said he had a gut feeling something wasn't right when the 55-year-old mayor didn't turn up for the meeting.

"But nowhere in your wildest dreams did you think it would be that far not right," he said.

Todd Storch of Coppell had known Peters for about a year. When his 13-year-old daughter died in a skiing accident in March, Peters was there for him and his family and later took a spot on the foundation he formed in his daughter's name to increase awareness for organ donation.

"She was just one of those rocks that was always there. We kind of grieved together," Storch said.

By late Wednesday morning, a small collection of flowers, wreaths and cards decorated the front porch of the Peters' home. A printed letter said: "Please know that you are loved no matter what happens. I know that God is with you and giving you comfort. You both are with Don, a wonderful husband and father. A family again."

Corinne Peters had graduated from high school last spring and was planning to attend the University of Texas in the fall.

"We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of these two members of our school family. Corinne was an outstanding student and gifted dancer with a big heart," said the Coppell ISD in a statement.

"She was the nicest person to everyone," said Sterling Von Strohe, a classmate. "Her mom was so sweet."

Jayne Peters was a contract software developer. She attended Miami University in Ohio. In her official biography on the city's website, she said "Coppell is a community with a huge heart, and we take care of one another."