Man suspected of murdering his wife shoots himself after police chase

DALLAS, Texas – Police sources investigating a wanted suspect who sparked a dangerous chase through Richardson and Dallas and ultimately ended it by committing suicide Monday identified the suspect Tuesday afternoon as Donald Ingram.

Family members of Ingram's wife, Michelle Ingram, said he was a suspect in her murder after she was found dead in her home early Monday morning.

The Dallas County coroner declared the 51-year-old deceased on Tuesday and said her place of death was in Forney, where the couple lived.

Because of the incident, portions of the southbound access road along US 75 near Esperanza were closed for more than six hours while police worked at the scene.

According to Richardson's police chief, a fire investigator who is also a sworn police officer notified police when he saw Ingram's vehicle in Richardson. Family members say it belonged to Michelle and was reported missing when her body was found.

The police chief said officers spotted Ingram driving, followed him and attempted to stop him near 500 Centennial Boulevard. Ingram then began a chase to escape. During the chase, investigators say Ingram fired at pursuing officers. At least one officer's vehicle was struck, and officers returned fire.

Investigators told WFAA that Ingram shot an adult female in the passenger seat twice before turning the gun on himself, causing the car to leave the road and come to a stop on the southbound access road near 13100 North Central Expressway.

The woman was taken to hospital and three children aged 5, 15 and 17 in the back seat were also transported as a precaution.

The officer who opened fire has been placed on leave pending an investigation into the shooting.

But Michelle's family members have no answers as to why Ingram wanted to end her life. Her nephew, Ray Saffold, told WFAA at the scene that no one had heard from his aunt and that they had contacted Ingram about her whereabouts.

“I never thought he would do something like this,” Saffold said. “He was in her car and now that he's gone, we can't figure out why he killed her. There are just a lot of unanswered questions.”

Saffold said Ingram told them over the phone she was fine, but something seemed wrong. He and Michelle's son broke into their home early Monday morning, found her body in a bedroom, then called police.

“When I came into the room, I saw a blanket and something underneath it leaning against the closet door,” Saffold said. “I called her son in, and when he pulled the sheet away, she was there. I started screaming. It was hard to see – very hard to see.”

He told WFAA that Michelle and Ingram were having marital problems and that she was working on filing for divorce.

Saffold told WFAA that Ingram spent 10 years in a Texas prison for murder in Dallas County. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice confirmed to WFAA that Ingram spent 10 years in prison for murder and aggravated assault from 1994 to 2003.

The murder occurred in September 1991 and WFAA was unable to find any accurate court information on the case.

Saffold said his mother was killed by her boyfriend when he was just 3 years old. He told WFAA that Michelle raised him like her own child and he couldn't believe someone so reckless would take in someone so caring.

“She sees the good in you – no matter who you are. She has a big heart – she's very caring. She's the most loving person I've ever met – and it pains me that she won't be a part of my life anymore because that's all I had,” Saffold said.