MANZANITA – After nearly a month, the investigation into the deaths of Richard Hunter and Astrid Schlaps in Manzanita is essentially closed, said Manzanita Police Chief Erik Harth.

Law enforcement officials concluded that the deaths of the Portland couple, who owned a home and business in Manzanita, were the result of a murder-suicide.

“We’re still awaiting some results from the crime lab, but it’s not going to change that conclusion,” Harth said.

Officials also believe the killings stemmed from financial problems that Hunter had hidden from his wife.

“The house in Portland was in foreclosure,” said Harth. “They were six months behind on the Manzanita house, which was an interest-only loan, and there was substantial credit card debt. There were at least five different creditors that had left messages at his work phone in a 10-day period.”

Based on information gathered by Harth during the investigation, he said, “Astrid did not know about the current financial problems.”

Manzanita police discovered the bodies of Richard Hunter, 56, and Astrid Schlaps, 55, on Sept. 10 after being asked to do a welfare check. They found Schlaps, shot once in the back of the head as she sat on the sofa, and Hunter in the stairwell leading to the basement.

A .357-caliber revolver, which investigators discovered Hunter had purchased in January, was found nearby.

Police estimate that the couple died on or near Sept. 1.