(August 7, 2008)—Police have discovered three members of a north Fort Worth family dead in what they say is an apparent double murder-suicide.

A Fort Worth police spokesman said that the bodies of a 36-year-old middle school teacher, her 44-year-old husband and a 14-year-old daughter were discovered Wednesday night in their home by a police officer conducting a welfare check.

According to a report by Dallas-Fort Worth television station KDFW, Irving police contacted Fort Worth police Wednesday about a "missing" teacher because she had not reported to work since Monday.

The teacher's absence triggered a call from her employer because she was very unlikely to miss work.

Police say neighbors reported they heard the couple fighting around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday; one of the neighbors heard blood-curling screaming.

The neighbors talked about whether they heard gunshots and decided it was "fireworks" so they didn't call the police.

Police say the middle school teacher and girl were found in the master bedroom while the husband, who investigators believe to be the shooter, was found in a hallway.