OGDEN — A popular educator with the Weber State University School of Nursing was killed by her estranged husband in a domestic violence-related murder-suicide on Friday.
Richard Candland, 52, shot and killed his estranged wife, 50-year-old Cynthia Candland, at her home, 548 N. Eccles Ave., said Ogden Police Lt. Danielle Croyle. Their daughter, a 22-year-old woman, tried to intervene but was shot by her father, Croyle said.
The daughter fled out of the house and was treated at a local hospital for a gunshot wound to her hand, she said.
At the WSU School of Nursing where Cynthia Candland was a faculty member, school chairwoman Susan Thornock said other professors were in shock.
"First off all, disbelief that something could happen to such a nice person in this fashion," she said. "She affected many people because of her gentleness and her kindness. She was just a sweetheart."
In addition to teaching, Thornock said Candland was on several committees and worked in the critical care unit at McKay-Dee Hospital.
"She was a model educator and a team player. There was never a time when she was involved with a group or committee that she wasn't proactive, never said no, always went forward in a very positive manner," she said. "She did love what she did and people loved her."
Thornock said in recent months, Candland had expressed to some of her closest friends at the school that she was fearful of her husband and had expressed concern.
"No one thought it was this serious," she said.
Croyle said she was not aware of any prior responses by Ogden police to the house for domestic violence issues. Other than traffic tickets, state court records show Richard Candland had no prior criminal history in Utah.
Cynthia Candland filed for divorce on Aug. 25. According to a temporary restraining order signed by a judge on Aug. 26, Richard Candland was banned from using any funds in his estranged wife's retirement accounts, bank accounts or stocks, according to court records. He was also not allowed to sell or dispose of any marital property or assets and was ordered to provide a detailed accounting of all martial assets.
"This is a very tragic circumstance. Domestic violence crimes tear apart the fiber of the family unit and the community," Croyle said.
Utahns who experience domestic violence can obtain help from the Domestic Violence LINKLine: 1-800-897-LINK (5465) or the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline: 1-855-323-DCFS (3237).
The hotlines are free and staffed round-the-clock, 365 days a year.
Contributing: Peter Samore
Email: preavy@deseretnews.com
Twitter: DNewsCrimeTeam