A suspect and a woman were found dead inside a Marietta home Saturday night in an apparent murder-suicide following an hours-long SWAT standoff, authorities said.
The suspect, identified as 37-year-old Michael Allen Reno, had barricaded himself in the home that afternoon after officers found him in an alleged stolen vehicle, according to Marietta police.
The car had been flagged by Flock cameras around 4 p.m. and was later found parked on Amy Drive in a neighborhood near North Marietta Parkway. As officers approached the vehicle, Reno got out and ran inside the home, located nearby on the same street, police said.
Credit: Ben Hendren for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Credit: Ben Hendren for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
During the investigation, police said they learned Reno was accused of taking about $38,000 in cash and handguns from his brothers’ residence in Paulding County.
A SWAT team was activated when Reno refused to leave the Marietta home that was being rented by a woman he was in a relationship with, identified as 35-year-old Courtney Dobberson-Watts, police said.
It’s unclear if Dobberson-Watts was his wife or girlfriend, Marietta police spokesperson Officer Chuck McPhilamy said. As officers tried to reach Reno, police said a rifle could be seen from outside.
Credit: Ben Hendren for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Credit: Ben Hendren for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
At 10:15 p.m., police sent in drones to check out the residence. By 10:40 p.m., officers entered the home and found two bodies. Reno was found dead in a back room next to several weapons and Dobberson-Watts’ body was lying near him, police said.
No other details were provided about their deaths, which remain under investigation. Anyone with more information is asked to contact Marietta police at 770-794-5300.
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