PHILADELPHIA — The horrific scene was discovered by the couple’s teenage son.
Today, the coroner ruled the incident a murder-suicide by chainsaw. 43-year-old Nicole Peppleman was stabbed, choked and mutilated with a chainsaw by her estranged husband, Christopher Peppelman, 48. Her death was ruled a homicide.
The husband the turned the chainsaw on himself, cutting his right thigh. His death was ruled a suicide.
On Tuesday, at 12:50 PM, the Lower Moreland Township Police were dispatched to a report of lacerations at 1151 Country Lane, Lower Moreland Township, Montgomery County. A juvenile caller reported finding his parents unresponsive with lacerations from a chainsaw.
The boy, 14 called police around 12:50 p.m. and reported he found his parents unresponsive with lacerations from a chainsaw, NBC reported.
The investigation is ongoing.
EARLIER: Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman and Lower Moreland Township Police Chief Peter C. Hasson announce the joint investigation into two deaths, which occurred at 1151 Country Lane in the Huntingdon Valley section of Lower Moreland Township one of which is an apparent homicide.
The Lower Moreland Township Police Department and the Montgomery County Detective Bureau commenced a joint investigation. At this time, law enforcement is not releasing the names of the deceased, pending family notifications of their deaths.
“The death of the female seems to be an apparent homicide, however, the investigation is continuing,” said First Assistant District Attorney Kevin Steele. “This is preliminary at this point.”
No suspects are being sought at this time.
Autopsies are scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, 2015, at the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office.
Photo: NBC Philly
