BEND, Ore. -- The husband of a Bend woman who vanished earlier this month shot and killed himself in a crawlspace beneath the home around six days later, amid an extensive search for her – and a search of the house found the woman’s purse in the crawlspace and her blood inside the home, police revealed Friday.

They declared it a likely murder-suicide for the first time, and also revealed two letters from the husband were found in the home, explaining his suicide but denying any role in his wife’s disappearance.

"We do believe we have evidence to believe that Mr. Meyer is responsible for her disappearance and that he had planned some of this out," Lt. Ben Gregory said late Friday.

Police released numerous disturbing details about the case that has prompted numerous searches for Sandra Meyer, 72, whose husband, John, 71, said she’d left their southeast Bend home the evening of March 9, to attend a book club meeting at a downtown nightclub. He reported her missing the next morning, when he said he had awakened to find she had not returned home.

Police found her maroon 2004 Volkswagen Touareg parked in the Old Mill shopping area that day, prompting extensive searches there and in the Deschutes River over ensuing days.

Police were called to the home on March 16 and found John Meyer dead beneath the house of a single, apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound, police Gregory confirmed Friday, one day after an autopsy by the Deschutes County medical examiner. His body was found in the crawlspace under the home, Gregory said.

Family members also found Sandra Meyer’s purse in the crawlspace under the home, and “a substantial amount of blood” also was found in a heat duct, Gregory said.

"We did find evidence of blood all around the floor; on the wall," Gregory said. "This area appears to have been cleaned up, and somebody had gone through great measures to clean that up."

Bend detectives and the Oregon State Police Crime Lab spent four days examining the home, on Taos Court in the Mountain High subdivision, as well as the area around the heating duct where the blood was found.

DNA analysis of the blood found in the heat duct was completed Thursday and determined to be that of Sandra Meyer, Gregory said.

Detectives have learned John Meyer bought a handgun and ammunition early this year. “It is believed this handgun was used by Mr. Meyer to take his own life,” Gregory said.

Two letters – one handwritten, one typed – also were found in the home, Gregory said, both believed to have been written by John Meyer.

"Both of these letters do outline some reasons why he took his own life," Gregory said. "And I don't think, out of sympathy for the family, I would want to repeat, but I can state that he did say that he had nothing to do with her (his wife's) disappearance."

Nevertheless, Gregory said the investigation and evidence found in the homes “leads investigators to believe Mr. Meyer is likely responsible for his wife’s disappearance,” Gregory said.

Police Capt. Jim Porter also told The Bulletin that when police first met with John Mayer at his house, they found his wife's cellphone. They also learned he had canceled a family membership at a local athletic club on the day he reported her missing.

Evidence still being processed by Bend and Deschutes County sheriff’s forensic specialists ranges from financial records to computer files, cellphones and other documents, the lieutenant said, adding that more details were not being released at this time.

Cadaver dogs and members of the sheriff’s Search and Rescue team have searched the couple’s home and surrounding area for the missing woman, he said, but turned up nothing.

“At this time, there is no information indicating anyone else is involved in Sandra’s disappearance,” Gregory said. “This case is being investigated as a homicide suicide. However, this case is still under investigation.”

Gregory said while John Meyer's claim his wife left their home the evening of March 8 may be untrue, police have verified she was alive that morning, as she talked to her sister by phone.

Police released photos of the couple and their two vehicles, the second being a white 1997 Ford Expedition, Oregon license YDA 108, in hopes that anyone who saw either Sandra or John Meyer or their vehicles between March 8 and March 10 will contact them, at 541-322-2960 or Deschutes County 911 dispatch, 541-693-6911.

Gregory said police have performed a detailed examination of the two vehicles, in search of evidence, but have found nothing useful so far.

Porter said police expect to have enough information in coming days from the couple's cellphones to hold a new search for Sandra Meyer, in a new location, by the end of next week.

A new message was posted Friday on the family's Website, www.findsandrameyer.com:

"Due to the recent developments surrounding Sandy's disappearance and the forecast inclement weather, we regretfully will not be conducting a volunteer search on Saturday the 26th. We will work with Local Law Enforcement and Search and Rescue to determine our next steps. We humbly thank the Bend community for their continued support and compassion in these difficult time. Thank you all very much."

Gregory said the family is doing about as well as can be expected, under the tragic circumstances, as police work to provide them and the public more answers and information.