Authorities are conducting an extensive inquiry following the discovery of two deceased individuals in a New Castle home on yesterday morning, as reported by the New Castle Police Department and Henry County Coroner’s Office. The officers answered to a call at a residence on the 2500 block of South 23rd Street at approximately 10 a.m. and upon arrival, they encountered the bodies of the victims inside, according to a statement obtained by Fox59.
No details regarding the manner of death were released but detectives believe the events leading to this grim discovery involved only those living within, not having an effect beyond its somber borders. The identities of the deceased have been released, with the Henry County Coroner's Office confirming them as 33-year-old Nicholas Neal and 77-year-old Sheri Burgess, both residents of the home, encounters with law enforcement are not commonplace on this otherwise peaceful stretch of New Castle, WIBC reports.
As neighbors describe the neighborhood as quiet and generally undisturbed, one local resident, Tina Phelps, reflects on the abnormality of the day's events, "I’ve lived here for 31 years and I’ve never seen anything like this at all," she recounted, "We’ve never seen anything like this, and I hope I never see anything like this again," Fox59 details her interview.
The New Castle Police Department has stated there is currently no known threat to public safety arising from this incident, suggesting it was an internal affair isolated to the home, details concerning the cause of death will be forthcoming following the completion of the autopsies, as ongoing investigations probe the circumscribed tragedy that unfolded on South 23rd Street, the peace of the neighborhood has been uncharacteristically shattered, WTHR confirmed these details. Police have reiterated their stance that this incident seems to be an isolated one, but the investigation remains active and ongoing.
