HAYWARD -A young couple was found dead of in the basement of a Hayward house Friday.

Saturday, October 13, 2001

HAYWARD -A young couple was found dead of in the basement of a Hayward house Friday. The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office determined that the husband killed his wife, then committed suicide.

A relative found the two bodies in the home at 214 Third Street and reported it to the police around 6:55 p.m.

Authorities discovered a note that suggests the incident was a murder-suicide. The sheriff’s office said Saturday they are investigating the motive of the crime.

According to neighbors, the man shot his wife then shot himself sometime in the late afternoon on Friday. Neighbors said the homeowners were Paul and Sheryl Rhodes. At press time Saturday, authorities would not confirm the names of the two bodies.

The Friday incident stunned the quiet community where fewer than 500 residents are struggling with grief.

Some neighbors said there were no outward indications of problems in the Rhodes family before Friday.

The house the family moved into about three years ago was recently decorated with Halloween ornaments. Some witnessed the family visit church together last Sunday.

&uot;It was a happy family. If such a thing could occur here, they would be the last ones,&uot; said a neighbor who would not give their name.

Other community residents sensed some family problems.

&uot;One of them always attended to the children when the other would go out. But in the last several weeks, I saw the kids were alone,&uot; another neighbor said.

One neighbor recently witnessed Rhodes practicing target shooting in the open space in front of his house.

Paul Rhodes worked as a local garbage collector and was a volunteer fire fighter in Hayward. He also participated in various community activities, according to neighbors.