2 die in possible murder-suicide

A woman and her 10-year-old daughter were found dead yesterday afternoon at their North Seattle home in what police were calling a possible murder-suicide.

Police said the girl's death appeared to be a homicide. Detectives at the scene declined to say how the woman, in her mid-40s, died, but they had not ruled out suicide.

Authorities would not disclose the victims' names, but neighbors identified them as Barbara Radel, and her daughter, Shannon, a fifth-grade student at St. John School in Greenwood.

The news hit parents of students at the school hard.

"We can only be supportive of others and believe in God," said Mari Halley, whose daughter Emily and Shannon Radel had been best friends since they were about 5. "This is the strongest time that faith is calling us."

Seattle police spokeswoman Pam McCammon said the girl's body was found in a bedroom of the one-story rambler in the 14300 block of Wallingford Avenue North by her father, whom neighbors identified as Daniel Radel, when he returned home from work shortly before 3 p.m.

After he called 911, his wife's body was found by officers in the garage, McCammon said. There were no signs of forced entry into the home, she said.

The husband was not considered a suspect in the deaths, McCammon said.

Friends of the Radel family said Barbara Radel had been diagnosed as clinically depressed and had attempted suicide in November.

Halley said Barbara Radel had been hospitalized but left the hospital because her insurance company allowed her to stay there only a certain number of days.

She appeared to have gotten better since November, Halley said.

"I thought she was fine," said Halley, who took care of Shannon every morning and evening for the past few months. "I thought she was getting better. I thought she was on an even keel.

"I'm extremely shocked. I'm in denial."

Neighbors in the tightly knit block recalled the family's warmness.

"They came over for a block party during the summer," Sharon Crook said.

Neighbors said the Radels were both Boeing employees, but that Barbara Radel was on leave because of a bipolar disorder. A Boeing spokeswoman would not confirm the couple's employment last night.

Police could not confirm medical-history details, McCammon said. She said the cause of death would be determined by the King County Medical Examiner's Office.

Meanwhile, counselors are expected to be at the Greenwood school today to help students deal with the loss, said Joe Egan, the vice principal.

"It's going to be a hard day," Halley said.