Two Gonzales County residents found dead

Two Gonzales County residents are dead as a result of what authorities believe to be a murder/suicide.

At approximately 7:15 p.m. on Monday, the Gonzales County Sheriff's Office dispatch center received a call from a rural area of Gonzales County, near Interstate 10, regarding a shooting. Upon investigation, Patricia Ann West Ramos Hastings, 39, was found deceased; evidently the victim of a gunshot wound.

A crime scene investigation ensued involving members of the patrol and investigation divisions of the Gonzales County Sheriff's Office, assisted by Texas Ranger Evens, District Attorney Investigator Frank Allenger, and Deputy Constable John Harris.

Ms. Hastings was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace, Pct. 3, Eulogio Melchor, who ordered an autopsy be performed by the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office and the body removed to that office in Austin.

At approximately 9:45 p.m. that same evening, the Gonzales County Sheriff's Office dispatch center received a call that a body was found on the railroad tracks between Gonzales and Harwood.

Assisted by the same agencies as listed above, the Gonzales County Sheriff's Office investigated the report and found the body of 47-year old Joe Hastings, Jr. A crime scene investigation was established to make appropriate records of the site. 

Justice of the Peace Melchor again performed his duty at the scene. An autopsy was ordered performed by the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office and the body removed to that office in Austin.

Speculation was rampant Tuesday morning with some early reports stating that no gun was found near the body of Mr. Hastings. The sheriff categorically denied that claim and confirmed that a weapon was indeed recovered from the site of the suicide.

Generally all victims are found at the same location of a murder/suicide, but Sachtleben said it is not uncommon to find them at separate locations due to the emotional state of the person who commits the murder. He explained that sometimes a person will kill someone at one location, leave the scene and then take their own life somewhere else after being overcome with remorse.

Both deaths remain under investigation at this time. Evidence gathered at both scenes will be turned over the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Lab in Austin for analysis.

The official ruling from the investigation remains outstanding until the final reports are returned by the Medical Examiner's Office and Judge Melchor renders his verdict.

"This is the sum total of it as far as we know," said Sachtleben. "It will take a while before we can officially close the case."

"The Medical Examiner's Office will do toxicology tests and we should have a preliminary report fairly quick. The judge won't make a ruling until the final report from the medical examiner arrives. There's really no doubt about what happened, it's just a matter of dotting our I's and crossing our T's."