Authorities have identified a man and woman found dead in a Fowler home in what investigators say was a murder-suicide, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday.

Cheryl Hanoian, 78, and her son, James Kelley McFarland, 60, were found with gunshot wounds Wednesday evening inside a home on the 600 block of Citrus Avenue, along with three dead dogs, officials said.

Deputies responded to the home around 6:30 p.m. after a 911 caller reported that McFarland was threatening to shoot his mother and his dogs, according to the sheriff’s office.

Fowler Police officers arrived but got no response from inside. A sheriff’s deputy deployed a drone to check for movement inside and outside the house before officers entered and found the bodies.

Investigators said McFarland had recently moved in with his mother after living out of state for several years. A motive remains unclear.

The case marks Fowler’s first homicide of 2025.

Got a Tip?

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sheriff’s Detective Juan Galindo at (559) 600-8215 or Valley Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Reference case #25-10716.

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