mr. holton did shoot his wife and then turn the gun on himself, why such a bizarre way to -- to do that. reporter: the next morning a state pathologist confirmed michael holton had a close contact wound at the base of his head. and to investigators the angle seemed telling. >> the only way we were able to do that is hold a gun upside-down, and place it upside-down, and then angle it. because, remember, the angle is upward. >> reporter: upside-down and using his left hand. the thing about that is, michael holton was right-handed. normally when men commit suicide, they use their dominant hand. >> sure. >> reporter: not their weaker hand. >> that's right. >> reporter: to the sheriff and his investigators, that made suicide improbable. and the pathologist agreed. he classified michael holton's death a homicide. >> he does not believe that that man would have killed himself or would have been able to kill himself in that manner. >> reporter: and so you go forward with a homicide investigation? >> it's not a head-scratcher. you -- you get a piece of paper that says it's homicide. >> reporter: