The bodies of a Fayette County man and woman were found Monday night on the property of Excel distribution center at 7300 Oakley Industrial Boulevard in Fairburn. Involved in what has been called a murder/suicide, the two were found a few feet from the roadway with man found partially slumped over the woman with a handgun lying next to him.

Ramon Avila, 24, is believed to have killed himself after taking the life of his companion, 29 year-old Leticia Tejeda Castro, according to Fairburn Det. D.L. Bedford. Both dead from gunshot wounds to the head, Avila and Castro had occasionally lived together at Landmark Village Mobile Home Park on Milam Road in north Fayette County, Bedford said. Avila traveled often and would stay with Castro or with family members at Landmark when in the area, said Bedford.

The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office said Tuesday morning the deaths were consistent with gunshot wounds to the head, according to Bedford. He said it was ruled a murder/suicide because the two shells casings found at the scene match those in the .40 caliber Glock handgun found next to Avila’s body, the proximity of the gun to the bodies and the absence of any indication of a third party being present. Bedford added that Avila and Castro had been seen together earlier in the afternoon.

The roadway inside the distribution center Monday night was lined with parked truck trailers. The bodies were found in the grass approximately 10-15 feet from the Ford Explorer, Fairburn Det. Toney Williams said Tuesday morning, with Avila’s body found partially slumped over Castro.

Discovery of the bodies occurred Monday at approximately 9 p.m. when a local worker noticed the Explorer parked on a roadway on Excel property normally used for truck parking. The caller placed a 911 call that initially went to Fulton County, Fairburn Police Chief Charles Long said. Fairburn Fire Department had been monitoring the frequency and responded to the call. Firefighters notified Fairburn 911 and city police units were sent to the scene in the newly annexed portion of the city.

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