A cancer-stricken Minnesota couple were found dead in their home with their two dogs earlier this week – after they planned a murder-suicide so they could leave the world “in love and together.”
The bodies of Steven Alton Stearns, 45, Stacy Lynn Stearns, 49, and their two dogs were discovered inside a Detroit lake home on Tuesday after the couple called 911, officials said.
According to the Baker County Sheriff’s Office, Stacy’s death has since been ruled a homicide and Steven’s suicide.
The couple, who celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary just a week before his death, were struggling to cope with their cancer battle, reported in the forum,
Steven was recently diagnosed with lung cancer that was too advanced to be treated, while his wife was already suffering from colon cancer.
Moments before the couple alerted 911 of their planned demise, they posted a heartbreaking final message on their joint Facebook page.
“For our loved ones. We decided to leave this world as we lived in it. In love and together. Our only regret is sadness for our loved ones. Remember the laughter and the joy we love you. Goodbye, ” read the post
His friend, Tammy Lawrence, told the outlet that Steven recently told her that they were secretly planning to end his life.
“They always have an agreement that, ‘We’ll go together,'” Lawrence said. “He promised me not to say anything to anyone.”
She continued: “Stacey didn’t want her to tell me, but she said I can’t look into your eyes and lie to you, and someone needs to be able to tell people why we’re going to do that.” are what we were going to do.”
Friends said the couple had no children and treated their two dogs as their own children.
“He’s not a killer; it was done out of love. That’s what both wanted. They wanted to go with their dogs,” Lawrence said.