Officials say man and woman found dead in Madera County home victims of homicide

The couple had obvious signs of trauma but detectives are not saying if there was any sign of forced entry or home invasion.

Signs of a fire still remain at the country home on Robertson Boulevard. Inside firefighters found much more than flames. The bodies of a man and woman in their 60's or 70's were inside the home. The victims had obvious signs of trauma.

Commander Bill Ward of the Madera County Sheriff's Office said, "We're looking at all the different angles and all the different possibilities right now."

No one was home at an adjoining duplex next door but deputies did find a meth lab where they say anywhere from 30 to 50 pounds of the drug was being turned into crystal form.

Brent Wood of the Department of Justice said, "They are actively making it right now so the methamphetamine is made, it's in liquid form. What they are doing is converting it, so they are actively converting it right now- so it's obvious from what we've seen that they've left in a hurry."

Investigators will not say whether they have been able to track the people who live here and were illegally producing the drug. But officers found out a large amount of acetone from the operation, which is highly flammable.

Detectives will not say if the spot fires may have been set in hopes of burning down the duplex to cover up the murders.

Deputies are trying to figure out what kind of relationship the renters had with the victim's and also establish when the couple was last heard from or seen.

"Additionally we will have investigators interviewing possible witnesses, doing records checks, and trying to find out as much as we can about the victims."

Detectives processed both homes for evidence and crime scene diagrams, including some of the front yard.

Neighbors said the couple who lives here rented out the home next door but detectives have not confirmed that yet.