Police: Women found suffocated, bound in Rhawnhurst motel room committed suicide

Philadelphia police believe that two women found dead in a Rhawnhurst motel room Sunday, with their heads covered with plastic bags and their hands tied behind their backs, committed suicide together, authorities said Monday.

Capt. James Clark of the Homicide Unit said that while police found both women with bags over their heads, only one of the victims had both arms restrained. The other was found with one arm free, Clark said, suggesting she was able to help the first woman commit suicide before killing herself.

Clark said video surveillance indicated the women were the only ones entering and exiting their room during their stay, bolstering the case for suicide. He also said police believe the women had done drugs during their visit, although he declined to elaborate.

Authorities declined to identify the victims, who were found at 12:27 p.m. at the Roosevelt Motor Inn on the 7600 block of Roosevelt Boulevard. Officer Christine O'Brien, police spokeswoman, said the women, ages 33 and 39, were from West Virginia. She said it appeared they had checked into the motel the night before they were found dead.