Charles Reid Jr. and Sarah Bulat Florida Murder-Suicide: Dunedin Community Reeling After Tragic Incident on Mac Charles Court

DUNEDIN, Fla. — Pinellas County deputies say two people were found dead Monday night inside a home on Mac Charles Court in Dunedin after what investigators now believe was a murder-suicide. Authorities say a welfare check was triggered after family members reported that 54-year-old Charles Reid Jr. had been sending suicidal messages; when deputies entered the residence they found 42-year-old Sarah Bulat with a fatal gunshot wound and then discovered Reid inside the bathroom with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Deputies later located multiple suicide notes in the home, and detectives currently believe Reid shot Bulat before taking his own life.

What investigators say happened

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), family members notified deputies after receiving alarming messages from Reid. Deputies went to the 1500 block of Mac Charles Court to conduct a welfare check. After attempting to make contact, they entered the unlocked home and found Bulat deceased. While officers were still on scene they heard a second gunshot coming from the bathroom; they then located Reid unresponsive from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and pronounced him dead at the scene. Detectives recovered several written notes around the house that investigators say indicate Reid had planned to end his life. The investigation remains active and PCSO has not announced any arrests or criminal charges beyond the scene findings.

Victims and the scene

Local reporting identifies the decedents as Charles Reid Jr., 54, and Sarah Bulat, 42. Media outlets covering the story say Bulat was a resident of the home where the bodies were found; Reid was located inside the same residence. Law enforcement has not released details about any prior police calls to the address or any ongoing criminal history tied to either person, and detectives have not publicly stated a confirmed motive. Out of respect for the family and because the investigation is ongoing, authorities are withholding some details that could compromise detective work.

Community and official response

Neighbors and community members are understandably shaken by the discovery. Local reporters note that investigators from the PCSO’s detectives’ bureau were on scene in the hours after the discovery, and deputies have asked anyone with information about the incident to contact the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Police statements emphasize that the matter is being treated as an apparent murder-suicide and that detectives will continue to search for evidence and interview potential witnesses as part of the probe.

What’s known — and what isn’t

At this stage investigators have made several public assertions: a welfare check was the reason officers went to the home; Bulat was found dead from a gunshot wound; Reid was found later with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound; suicide notes were located in the house; and detectives believe Reid killed Bulat before taking his own life. What remains unconfirmed publicly are motive, the timeline of events inside the home before deputies arrived, any prior incidents between the two, and whether either person had been receiving mental-health treatment. Officials have cautioned against speculation as they continue evidence gathering.

Why this matters

Cases described as murder-suicides raise overlapping public-safety and mental-health concerns. Welfare checks — when family, friends or care providers contact police because they fear someone may be a danger to themselves or others — are one of the most common ways law enforcement encounters persons at imminent risk. Investigations of this type also often spur community discussion about access to mental-health care, domestic-violence warning signs, firearm safety and the need for resources for people in crisis.

Resources and safety information

If this reporting raises concerns for you or someone you know: if you are in immediate danger call 911. For suicide prevention in the United States, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by dialing 988 (or via chat at 988lifeline.org). Survivors of domestic violence can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or reach them online at thehotline.org. Local Pinellas County behavioral health and victim-service providers may also be able to help those directly affected by this incident. (These resources are provided to help connect people to support; they are not a substitute for emergency response.)

What will happen next

Detectives with the PCSO say the investigation is ongoing. That typically includes forensic processing of the residence, review of electronic communications and any video, interviews with family and neighbors, and the preparation of a coroner’s report to determine precise causes of death. As authorities gather more evidence they may release additional information; likewise, if new facts emerge that change the understanding of the case, the sheriff’s office will update the public. Anyone with information is asked to contact PCSO’s non-emergency line or submit a tip through official channels.

If you’d like, I can:
• Draft a longer, feature-style piece that includes community reaction and background on welfare checks and local resources; or
• Produce a concise news brief suitable for a publication sidebar or social post.

Which would you prefer?