A Valid Panic Alarm

[Willowdared]

Woman's death determined to be part of murder-suicide attempt

By Debbi Baker
UNION-TRIBUNE BREAKING NEWS TEAM
11:29 a.m. June 2, 2008
LAKESIDE – A sheriff's homicide investigator said Monday that a woman found dead in her home over the weekend was the victim of a murder/attempted suicide at the hands of her former husband, who remains hospitalized with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The couple's divorce was finalized Wednesday.

The body of real estate agent Ginger Bass, 51, was found in the bedroom of her Cheryl Lee Court home Saturday shortly before 10 p.m. by deputies responding to a panic alarm, said sheriff's homicide Lt. Dennis Brugos.
Frank Bass, 52, was found in the same room with a gunshot wound to the upper abdomen, Brugos said.

Bass had worked as a real estate broker since 1996 and became the manager of the RE/MAX Associates branch in La Mesa in 2006, according to a biography posted on her Web site.

Prior to that, she lived in Montana and before that spent 20 years in Alaska, where she worked as a truck driver, initially on the Alaska Pipeline. After retiring from the Teamsters union, she owned and operated a stained glass store in Fairbanks and designed custom glass windows for homes, businesses and churches. She also said she designed and built two log homes.

According to her Web site, Bass adopted three siblings from Bogota, Columbia who are now grown. She worked in her real estate office with one of her stepdaughters, who served as her assistant.

Investigators plan to question Frank Bass, who is hospitalized and has undergone surgery, Brugos said.

Officials have not yet said how Ginger Bass died, only that her body showed signs of severe trauma. An autopsy was scheduled for today, Brugos said.

[Just KC]

Incredibly sad