TEMPLE — Bodies of a husband and his wife were discovered early Tuesday afternoon in their home, and both appeared to have been shot, according to a news release from Steve McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

The couple were identified as Thomas Masse, 60, and Michelle Masse, 59.

“Thomas Masse worked at Collins Enterprises in Wilton, and Michelle worked at the Colonial Valley Motel in Farmington,” McCausland said.

The ranch-style home they lived in is on Temple Road, also known as Route 43.

Troopers were sent to the home Tuesday morning after a 911 call was received from the man at the home, who was threatening to shoot himself.

Franklin County dispatchers received the call at 5:43 a.m.

The state police tactical team and negotiators arrived later in the morning, but efforts to communicate with the couple were unsuccessful, according to the release.

The bodies were discovered by members of the tactical team, who entered the home about 12:30 p.m.

“Evidence technicians and detectives will work into the night gathering evidence from inside the home,” McCausland said in the release. Details are not expected until police are further along in the investigation, he said.

McCausland said the state medical examiner will conduct autopsies on the bodies Wednesday.

A stretch of Route 43 from the Town Office to the post office in Temple was closed while police investigated the incident, according to members of the Temple Fire Department who were stopping traffic at the Town Office. Access to Varnum Pond Road was available.

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