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AMERICAN FORK — American Fork police say it may be weeks or months before they know what caused the deaths of an elderly couple found deceased inside their home earlier this week who had not been seen since late November.
"What specifically caused the death of both Sally Francom and Duane Francom is still unknown. This investigation is still highly active and ongoing," police said in a prepared statement on Friday.
Officers were asked Wednesday to conduct a welfare check on the Francoms, both 84, at their home at 179 N. Center Street. After obtaining enough probable cause, officers forced their way into the house where the bodies were discovered.
"The bodies of both individuals had entered intermediate-to-advanced stages of decomposition. Investigators also observed some suspicious factors. One of these was that the bodies of both individuals were located in different rooms. Investigators also observed a chair lying on its side and items that appeared to have been knocked off a table in the room in which Sally's body was located. There were no weapons located in the home that appeared to have been used in this incident," police stated.
Police say there were no signs of forced entry into the home and they do not suspect foul play by anyone outside the house.
"Investigators believe all circumstances surrounding the death of Sally and Duane Francom were isolated to the inside of the home at the time of their respective deaths," police stated, while adding that autopsies conducted by the Utah State Medical Examiner's Office "did not reveal any observable indications of traumatic injury to either individual."
Police are asking that anyone who may have pertinent information that would help their investigation to call them at 801-763-3020.
