LENORE - Two men are dead and a woman is recovering from her wounds after an apparent murder-suicide in Lenore. It happened late Friday morning at 37504 Hanks Grade.

Nez Perce County Chief Deputy Dale Buttrey, who is acting sheriff, said during an interview Friday night, that 55-year-old Ralph Douglas Mack and 34-year-old Cody Alan Dwire were found dead from apparent gunshot wounds. 50-year-old Kathleen Marie Dwire also suffered a gunshot wound and was flown by helicopter to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center where she was treated and released.

Cody Dwire, is believed to have been the perpetrator. He is Kathleen Dwire's son. Buttrey said he interviewed Kathleen Dwire in the hospital Friday. Buttrey said she told him her son had walked away from a mental health treatment program in California and that he had been in the Lenore area for two weeks. Buttrey said she had told her son to turn himself into authorities in Orofino.

She said on Friday morning, he found two firearms at the residence, a rifle and a large caliber handgun, and confronted the couple. Buttrey said a shot was fired from the pistol at Kathleen Dwire’s head. She ducked and the round tore through her hat. Another shot struck her either in the side or the arm, according to Buttrey.

Buttrey said a fight then ensued, with Mack trying to get the gun away from Dwire. Buttrey said another shot was fired, striking Mack in the chest area. Cody Dwire then picked up the rifle and shot himself.

Kathleen Dwire was able to ride a four-wheeler and get to a cell phone where she dialed 911. It rang through to the Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office, even though Buttrey said it should have been routed to Nez Perce County dispatch. Clearwater County deputies contacted Nez Perce County and responded to the scene where they found Kathleen Dwire and the two bodies. She was taken by a Clearwater County helicopter to St. Joes.

The investigation is continuing and deputies will return to the scene Saturday. Buttrey said it was unfortunate that his office had not been contacted when there was a problem with getting Cody Dwire to turn himself in. He called the deaths “tragic.”