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Man Kills Autistic Son In Apparent Murder-Suicide; 'He Didn't Want To Burden The Family'

MELVINDALE (WWJ/AP) - Authorities say a father killed his 20-year-old autistic son before taking his own life because he apparently didn't want to burden the family.

Police found the bodies of 58-year-old John Richett and his son Nicholas on Friday morning at their home on Caryn Street in Melvindale, in a neighborhood near Greenfield and Allen roads. Their causes of death have not yet been released.

"He feared his medical problems would take his life and then he wouldn't be around to care for his son," Police Chief Chad Hayse told WJBK-TV. "He didn't want to burden the family."

John Rowe, a neighbor, said Richett told him that caring for his son "was getting harder and harder."

"I'm just very sad to hear because John was a very nice man," Rowe said. "You could tell he really loved Nicky."

Arrangements for John and Nicholas Richett were handled by Voran Funeral Home in Allen Park.

TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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