Ex-CEO of Alpo, wife, die in murder-suicide

NAZARETH, Pa. (AP) — The former CEO of Alpo Petfoods Inc. and his wife are dead in what officials are calling a murder-suicide.

Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek says Joseph Sestak, 75, killed his wife, Carol, 71, and then himself inside their Lower Nazareth Township home. Mark Sestak found his parents’ bodies Friday morning.

Lysek has ruled Joseph Sestak’s death a suicide as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He ruled Carol Sestak’s death a homicide as a result of a gunshot wound.

Joseph Sestak was named president of Allen Products Co. Inc. in Allentown, the maker of Alpo pet foods, in March 1981 and became chairman and chief executive officer in 1987.

Autopsies were expected to be completed Saturday.