Police find Dallas-area mayor, teen daughter shot dead at their home

Dallas-area mayor, teen daughter are shot dead

COPPELL, Texas — The mayor of an upscale suburb of Dallas and her teenage daughter were found shot to death at their home, city officials said Wednesday.

Police discovered the bodies of Coppell Mayor Jayne Peters, 55, and Corrine Peters, 19, around 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, city spokeswoman Sharon Logan said. Police found no signs of forced entry.

“It appears that both suffered gunshot wounds to the head,” Logan said.

Police officers went to their home after the usually prompt mayor failed to arrive at a city council meeting and did not call to explain her absence, Logan said.

The circumstances of the shootings remained unclear. The Dallas County Medical Examiner’s office said the autopsies have not been completed.

“Because we do not have all the facts and the investigation is not complete, we cannot release any additional information,” said Deputy Police Chief Steve Thomas.

By late Wednesday morning, a small collection of flowers, wreaths and cards decorated the front porch of the Peters’ home. A printed letter said: “Please know that you are loved no matter what happens. I know that God is with you and giving you comfort. You both are with Don, a wonderful husband and father. A family again.”

The mayor’s husband, Donald Peters, died in 2008 at the age of 58.

Jayne Peters was a contract software developer who had served as mayor of Coppell, a city of about 40,000 located 15 miles northwest of Dallas, for the past year. Her term was to expire in 2012. She had been a council member since 1998.

“This is a tremendous loss for the city, the community and the region,” said City Manager Clay Phillips.

The elder Peters attended Miami University in Ohio. On her official biography on the city’s website, she said “Coppell is a community with a huge heart, and we take care of one another.”

Corinne Peters graduated from Coppell High School this year. Her Facebook page shows a smiling girl in a white top and details her interests in movies and television comedies.

“Corinne was an outstanding student and gifted dancer with a big heart,” said Jessica Doty, a spokeswoman for the Coppell school district. Doty called Jayne Peters a “dedicated school volunteer.”

A former classmate of Corinne Peters said the young woman was bound for the University of Texas at Austin.

“She was the nicest person to everyone,” said Sterling Von Strohe. “Her mom was so sweet.”

Corinne Peters and her mother lived alone in their 3,850 square-foot brick home with a spa and pool.

Associated Press reporters Jeff Carlton and Jamie Stengle in Dallas contributed to this report.

Online:

City of Coppell, www.ci.coppell.tx.us