WHITLEY COUNTY, KY — Authorities are investigating the mysterious deaths of a married couple found unresponsive in their running vehicle Sunday morning, blocking a rural Kentucky intersection. The discovery of 60-year-old George Glenn Gaertner and his wife Surja M. Gaertner inside their gray Chevrolet Malibu at KY Highway 92 and 2792 has left this Appalachian community searching for answers.
The grim scene unfolded around 11:10 a.m. when Major Tony Dingess responded to reports of a suspicious idling car. Investigators found both Struck, Kentucky residents deceased—George still positioned behind the wheel—with a handgun recovered from the vehicle. The engine was running, headlights on, and no immediate signs of forced entry or struggle were visible at the scene.
Autopsies scheduled at the state medical examiner’s office will determine whether the deaths resulted from a murder-suicide, carbon monoxide poisoning, medical event, or other causes. The absence of visible trauma has complicated early assessments, though the presence of the firearm suggests possible gunshot wounds. Neighbors described the Gaertners as reclusive but peaceful, with no known financial or marital troubles.
This marks Whitley County’s first double-fatality case in nearly two years. The sheriff’s office has sealed the vehicle for forensic processing while awaiting ballistic and toxicology reports. “We’re treating this as a death investigation until evidence proves otherwise,” emphasized Major Dingess, noting the complex collaboration between multiple agencies including KSP Post 11 and local coroner officials.
As authorities notify extended family members, the tight-knit community of Struck (population 300) mourns the loss. The Gaertners’ rural property—located 12 miles from the crash site—has been secured as investigators search for possible suicide notes or medical records. Funeral arrangements through Croley Funeral Home are pending autopsy results.
The Whitley County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone who saw the Malibu between Saturday night and Sunday morning to contact investigators at 606-549-6007. With Highway 2792 being a lightly traveled backroad, officials are particularly interested in dashcam footage from local log trucks or delivery drivers that might reveal the vehicle’s final movements.
