Apparent murder-suicide probed
By Jeff Gallatin
North Olmsted
Published April 26, 2006

A Lakewood man upset over a recent breakup apparently shot and killed his ex-girlfriend before turning his .357 Magnum on himself and committing suicide at her home, officials indicated Monday.

Investigators said preliminary indications are Philip Logan, 47, of Lakewood, sometime between Sunday night and Monday morning went to the condominium of Debra Fox, 53 on Clareshire Drive fired multiple shots into her before firing a single shot into his own head. Officers found the two by her kitchen after police had forced their way into the home when no one responded to their attempts to contact the townhouse’s occupants.

Sgt. Mike Kilbane of the North Olmsted Police Department said the department was called about the situation Monday morning by Logan’s nephew.

“His last contact with his uncle had been on Sunday night, so when he didn’t come to work Monday morning his nephew became concerned,” Kilbane said. “He indicated his uncle was upset over the recent breakup with his girlfriend.”

When he found neither his uncle or Fox was at work, the nephew became concerned and contacted police, Kilbane said.

Kilbane and Patrolmen Dan Barrett and Jim Yost went to the condominium around 11 a.m.

“Nobody was answering the phone, their cell phones or the door when we asked to come in.” Kilbane said.

As the other officers were doing this, Barrett checked Logan’s vehicle and found an empty case for the .357 Magnum and a box of shells in the front seat of the vehicle, Kilbane said.

“At that point it became a different situation because of the potential of the gun being involved,” Kilbane said.

One officer went to the back while the others stayed at the front and said they were coming in unless someone opened the door. Again getting no response, Kilbane said the officers forced their way into the residence.

Once inside, Kilbane said the entrance and living room areas showed no signs of any problems.

“There were no signs of a struggle,” Kilbane said.

However, when officers got to the kitchen area, they found Fox dead, apparently from several gunshots to the body and Logan nearby with a single gunshot wound to his head. Officers found the .357 Magnum and several spent shell casings nearby. Officers believe at least five shots were fired in the incident with officers recovering some slugs embedded in the wall as evidence.

Kilbane said there apparently weren’t many neighbors around when it took place.

“One neighbor is on second shift and others weren’t home when it happened,” Kilbane said.

Both bodies were taken to the Cuyahoga County Coroner’s office for autopsies.

Kilbane said the department has never had any contact with Logan and only one incident with Fox.

“She called in a destruction of property report two days ago saying someone had poured paint on her car,” Kilbane said.

He said there were no indications at this point as to who had damaged Fox’s vehicle.

Kilbane said preliminary information showed no one else appeared to be involved in the incident. Officers are continuing to investigate.