Police: Santa Rosa man called to tell of plans to kill wife, self

The Santa Rosa man who died in a possible murder-suicide earlier this week may have called police to tell them of his plans, authorities said Friday.

Detectives said they believe Robert Walter Zemore was the one who called police about 9:15 a.m. Wednesday and warned “there was going to be a murder-suicide and provided an address,” before hanging up, said Sgt. Christopher Mahurin, Santa Rosa Police Department’s spokesperson.

There are no other suspects due to the scene of the crime and the fact Zemore was the only man in the house, Mahurin added.

The address given was a home in the Oakmont senior housing development in the 400 block of Meadowgreen Drive, officials said.

Officers responded “immediately,” according to police, and found Robert Walter Zemore, 84, and his wife, Judith Ann Zemore, 79, dead from gunshot wounds.

The couple was found lying on a bed along with a handgun, police said.

Based on their positioning and the phone call, police believe Robert Zemore shot his wife and then himself, Mahurin said.

Both people were pronounced dead inside the single-story condominium.

Police are interviewing family members to determine a motive, Mahurin said.

The couple did not have a history of domestic violence that police are aware of, he said.

Detectives are still waiting for an autopsy report from the Sonoma County Coroner’s Office to determine times of death and the number of gunshot wounds each person suffered, he said.

It was the 10th homicide in Santa Rosa this year and the sixth homicide resulting from gun violence, according to police.

Authorities urged anyone with information to contact the Santa Rosa Police Department at 707-543-3590

You can reach Staff Writer Alana Minkler at 707-526-8511 or alana.minkler@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @alana_minkler.