Discovery of 2 dead on Anchorage Hillside being investigated as murder-suicide

Anchorage police said Wednesday the discovery of two dead bodies on a Hillside Drive property is now being investigated as a murder-suicide.

"The cause of death appears to be by gunshots," police said in a brief statement.

Police are withholding the victims' identities as investigators are still in the process of notifying family.

Anchorage police doing a welfare check Monday found the two bodies in a wooded area behind the garage of the South Anchorage home.

[2 found dead in woods behind Anchorage Hillside home]

It was officers' second visit to the home, and both visits turned up nothing suspicious until they expanded their welfare check to the rest of the property.

Police spokesman MJ Thim said a friend called in both welfare checks. They were concerned because they hadn't heard from either of the victims for a few days, Thim said.