Former legislator Schaefer killed in murder-suicide

The GBI is investigating a Friday night murder-suicide involving a former member of the state legislature.

Authorities say Nancy Schaefer’s husband, Bruce, shot her in the back before shooting himself in the chest.

“The investigation so far and the autopsy results from late this afternoon have not uncovered any evidence to indicate it is anything other than a murder-suicide,” the GBI said in a statement.

Relatives found the couple inside their Habersham County house late Friday afternoon. “Several letters written by Mr. Schaefer to family members were found in the home including a suicide note,” the GBI said.

Schaefer served two terms in the state Senate before she was defeated in 2008 and was the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in 1994. During her legislative career, Schaefer championed a number of conservative issues, including the public display of Ten Commandments; she also founded the pro-life Family Concerns in 1986.

The AJC reported that Bruce Schaefer may have been suffering from cancer.

“Nancy Schaefer was a great lady, and she served Georgia and her constituents with honor and grace,” The Associated Press quoted state Rep. Rick Austin, R- Demorest, as saying.