The deaths of a Rawlins County man and his son have been ruled a murder – suicide.

Last Friday afternoon Rawlins County Dispatch received a call from a family member reporting that a man on the property had been shot. Deputies responded to the farm property in rural Rawlins County, near the Thomas County line, west of a residence at 34428 County Road B, near Rexford, Kansas.

When authorities arrived they found 74-year-old Gary E. Withers deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. Soon after, approximately one half mile away, and outside the home on the property belonging to Gary Withers, deputies discovered 41-year-old Daniel “Danny” E. Withers deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.

According to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, autopsies have been completed.

The preliminary autopsy results for Gary Withers revealed he died from a gunshot wound, and the manner of death was homicide. The preliminary autopsy findings in the death of Danny Withers revealed he died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Evidence suggests that Danny Withers shot his father, Gary Withers, and then shot himself.

The investigation is ongoing.