Bernie Madoff's sister and husband found dead in suspected murder-suicide in Florida

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BOYNTON BEACH, Fla.

— The sister of scammer Bernie Madoff and her husband were found dead after an alleged case of murder and suicide in Florida, according to press reports.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department on Sunday identified the couple as Sondra Wiener, 87, and her husband Marvin, 90. They were found with gunshot wounds inside their residence Thursday.

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“Detectives from the Violent Crimes Division arrived at the scene to continue investigations.

After further investigation, it appears that it is a homicide and suicide,” the police said in a statement.

Bernie Madoff leaves the federal courthouse in Manhattan, New York, on March 10, 2009.Louis Lanzano / AP

Officials indicated that the coroner's office will determine the cause of death.

A woman who identified herself as the wife of David Wiener - the couple's son - asked for respect for her privacy "in this moment of pain."

"We will not make any comment now," she said after being contacted by phone.

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Madoff became infamous for orchestrating a massive pyramid scheme that wiped out many people's fortunes and bankrupted charities.

He was sentenced to 150 years in prison after pleading guilty in 2009 to fraud and other charges.

Last year he died in prison at the age of 82.