Police investigating deaths of Conn. couple as murder-suicide

WETHERSFIELD — Police are investigating the shooting deaths of a Branford dentist and a young woman who were found by officers on Mountain Laurel Drive Saturday night as a murder-suicide, officials said.

The victims have been identified as Caroline Anne Ashworth, 21, and Michael Mollow, 59, both of Branford, who had been in a previous domestic relationship, police said.

Mollow was a well-know dentist at the North Branford Dental Group, reports said.

“We are very sorry to report the passing of Dr. Michael Mollow, who died this Saturday night under tragic circumstances,” said one of dentists in the practice in a note to patients. “We want to extend our deepest sympathies to everyone affected by this devastating event and want to make sure all our patients heard this terrible news directly from us.”

Dr. Swati Khambe told patients details of the death were not released due to the active investigation, “but we do know that the Wethersfield police are investigating the situation.”

“This is an extremely sad time for North Branford Dental Group,” Khambe said. “Our employees and their loved ones are like family, and a tragedy of this magnitude affects us all. If anyone needs to talk, share or reflect on this situation, please do not hesitate to reach out to a member of our team.”

Officers responding to multiple 911 calls reporting the sound of gunfire in the 100 block of Mountain Laurel Road at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday found the pair deceased, police said.

Ashworth was inside a vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds to her torso and extremities, police said. Mollow was found outside the vehicle near the driver’s side door with a gunshot wounds to the chest and head, reports said.

The deaths are being investigated as a murdersuicide, police said. A motive for the shootings has not been determined, police said.

The Wethersfield shootings occurred a day before East Granby and state police discovered the bodies of a couple in an East Granby home. That case was also determined to be a murdersuicide, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Anyone who may have information can call the Wethersfield Police Detective Division at 860-7212865.

In both shootings police said they did not believe there was any threat to the public.