Man and Woman Found Dead in Ellicott City Townhome

Updated 9/13/2010

A man and woman who were found dead from apparent gunshot wounds in their Ellicott City townhome had "a lovely family," a neighbor said today.

But records show the couple was in the midst of a custody dispute.

Police, responding to a neighbor's call, found Clare Lenor Stoudt, 35, and Reginald Van Graves, 49, dead Saturday evening in the townhouse at 3762 Bonnybridge Place  on a quiet cul-de-sac off Rogers Avenue.

Both died from what appeared to be gunshot wounds, according to police. There were no signs of forced entry into the home.

The two, who were not married, had children together. Police say there were three children, ages 7, 5 and 2 living in the house with Stoudt and Van Graves. The children were placed with a family member and crisis counselors and detectives were on hand.

Since 2008, Stoudt had been an associate attorney at Pillsbury Winthrop in the law firm's tax practice based in Washington, D.C.

Christine Kearns, Office Managing Partner at the D.C. office, said Stoudt was a gifted tax lawyer, and, she added in an email to Patch, "a loving mother and a truly beautiful person. We are deeply saddened by her loss, and by the tragic circumstances of her death.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Clare's children and the rest of her family."

Stoudt filed a complaint for child custody on Sept. 7 against Graves, according to Maryland judiciary records. The records list Graves' address on Bonnybridge Place but Stoudt's address at another location in Ellicott City. Records also show Stoudt is an attorney licensed in Maryland.

According to police,  dispatch received a 911 call around 6 p.m. Saturday  from a person reporting that a child had found two injured bodies inside of a neighboring home.

When emergency crews responded, they found a man and a woman, both dead, inside the home. It appeared both had traumatic injuries, police said.

Investigators say they found a gun inside the home and it is being analyzed for evidence. Detectives were working Sunday morning to determine what occurred inside the home. They were investigating the possibility of domestic assault.

On Sunday morning a neighbor came outside to check on visitors to the house. She declined to give her name, but described Stoudt, Van Graves and the children as "a lovely family that always went for walks together in the evening."

A young woman who identified herself as Van Graves' daughter was being interviewed at the police station late Sunday morning.

Check ellicottcity.patch.com for updates.

With reporting from Patch.com Editors David Greisman and Brian Hooks.