08142015 - News Article - Portage woman's death ruled a homicide

Portage woman's death ruled a homicide 
Husband remains hospitalized in Gary
Post-Tribune (IN)
August 14, 2015
www.newsbank.com
A Portage woman shot in an apparent murder-attempted suicide died from multiple gunshot wounds, Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris said Thursday, adding her death has been ruled a homicide.

The time of death for Maria Contreras, 45, was 4:39 p.m. Wednesday, he said. Contreras died at her home in the 3000 block of Edith Street in the Sandalwood Estates subdivision on Portage's east side.

Her husband, Miguel Contreras, 51, sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, police said Wednesday, and was transported to Methodist Hospitals Northlake campus in Gary. The extent of his injuries was critical, police said Wednesday, but his condition was not immediately known Thursday.

Miguel Contreras has not been charged.

Portage Police Chief Troy Williams has said his department received a call at 4:12 p.m. Wednesday about a verbal disturbance at the residence, and the call was updated with information about possible shots fired. Williams said three or four shots were fired during the incident.

Officers found Maria Contreras partially outside an open glass sliding door at the back of the house. Miguel Contreras, found in the adjacent living room, was still breathing when he was transported to the hospital. Police found a semi-automatic handgun believed to be used in the shooting in the house.

The couple's 22-year-old son was home at the time of the shooting and their daughter was at college.