A West Manheim Township Police officer climbs out a second story window as traffic continues to roll past on Stoverstown Road. The officer accessed the home through the window to keep from contaminating the crime scene. (Bil Bowden)

A North Codorus Township man shot his wife, then turned the gun on himself in a murder-suicide inside their home Thursday.

James Witte, 42, shot his wife, Holly Witte, 41, and then killed himself, according to Southwestern Regional Police.

They were the only people in the home at the time of the incident, and no notes were left, York County Chief Deputy Coroner Claude Stabley said.

Stabley has ruled the incident a murder-suicide. No autopsies are planned, according to the coroner's office.

Police were summoned to the Witte home in the 1900 block of Stoverstown Road about 4:30 p.m. after a family member found the couple dead and called 911.

James Witte had called the family member and said he was going to shoot his wife and then himself, police said. The family member went to the home and found the Wittes dead, police said.

The motive for the murder-suicide appears to be marital discord, police said.

Children: The couple moved to the two-story brick home six or seven years ago, said Roger Shaw, a neighbor who lives down the street.

They lived there with their 7-year-old son, police said. Holly Witte also has three daughters from a previous relationship.

The son was taken out of the house earlier on Thursday by Holly Witte and left in the care of a neighbor across the street, according to Shaw.

Southwestern Regional Police Chief Greg Bean said that's because James and Holly Witte intended to have a discussion about the problems in their relationship.

The boy is now staying with family members, Bean said.

'Don't understand': Shaw said he saw no indication there were marital problems between James and Holly Witte. He often saw them playing in the back yard with their son.

"I thought they were getting along," Shaw said.

James Witte would often help Shaw with odd jobs, such as shoveling snow, at his home.

Next-door neighbor Mike Kushla also said nothing seemed afoul with the couple and that they always seemed to get along with each other.

"I never saw any signs of arguing," he said.

Often no signs: Bean said that's not uncommon in domestic murder-suicides.

"So often, these are cases where there are no signs something is dramatically wrong," he said. "Time and time again, we hear friends and family say there were no warnings whatsoever that the depth of hatred was life-threatening."

However, Bean noted that some of the couple's friends and family told officers they had concerns about the Wittes' relationship.

Police were never called to the Witte home before Thursday, the chief said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sgt. Lisa Layden at 225-1333, ext. 115.

-- Staff writer Liz Evans Scolforo contributed to this report. Reach Greg Gross at ggross@yorkdispatch.com.