Charles Snelling: Alzheimer’s writer kills sick wife and himself

Charles Snelling, a Pennsylvania man who had recently written in The New York Times about his love for his Alzheimer's-stricken wife, killed her and himself in what their family called an act of "deep devotion," reported the Associated Press. The bodies of Snelling and his wife, Adrienne, both 81, were found Thursday in their home in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania.

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Snelling recently stepped down as chairman of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, according to The Washington Post. He often brought his ailing wife along on trips to the DC area, where he attended many meetings, paying travel expenses for her caregivers.

He cared for his wife as her Alzheimer's worsened in the last six years, and said he was happy to return the favor she had done for his over the past 61 years, reported local newspaper The Morning Call.

"Our father ended our mother's life and then took his own life as well," the family said in a statement, according to the AP. "This is a total shock to everyone in the family, but we know he acted out of deep devotion and profound love."

The family and authorities said the matter is under investigation and are not commenting on how the couple died, reported The Washington Post.

Snelling received a call late last year from New York Times columnist David Brooks to contribute to a column written by people over 70 to evaluate accomplishments and lessons in their lives, reported the AP. Snelling's essay, where he looked back at his life with his wife, was published online last December.