By Craig Anderson

HARRINGTON — Two days after the death of a next-door neighbor and a murder charge against her husband, Norman Barlow was still reeling Tuesday.

Mr. Barlow had lived next to Richard W. Nelson, 69, and his wife, Sandra M. Nelson, 74, at least 14 years. He described them as “a model couple.”

But he said that just doesn’t align with Sunday’s crime scene in the 100 block of East Lucky Estates Drive, where Ms. Nelson was found deceased in her garage after Delaware State Police said she was stabbed to death. A family dog was killed in the same manner, authorities said.

Mr. Nelson was charged with first-degree murder, possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony and cruelly or unnecessarily killing/injuring an animal. He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 7, Dover, and held at Sussex Correctional Institution, Georgetown, on a $522,000 cash bond.

According to Mr. Barlow — who is Harrington’s police chief but has no involvement in DSP’s case — the Nelsons were “very good people. They were retired and caring people. It’s just a shock to all of us here because you would just never expect (they’d be involved) in something like this.”

During regular walks through the Lucky Estates development, Mr. Nelson “talked to everybody. He’d talk to you for hours,” Mr. Barlow added.

And regarding Ms. Nelson, he remembered her as “just a sweetheart, just a caring lady. She always had a smile on her face and was full of kind words. I mean, they were just a model couple. It’s unbelievable.”

Neighbors were planning to gather at a residence Tuesday night, Mr. Barlow said.

In addition to sharing good memories of the Nelsons, he said, he expected that the residents would exchange information with each other regarding the incident.

“The neighbors are like family here,” he said. “When one hurts, we all hurt. Everyone looks out for each other, and when something tragic like this happens, they tend to come together and try to help each other through it, so it’s like one big family in here.

“And we all try to mind our own business, so to speak, but when someone else is hurting and needs help, we’re there for one another.”

According to a DSP news release detailing the incident, police arrived at the scene Sunday after Mr. Nelson called 911 at around 11:51 a.m., saying he had killed his wife and family dog.

A Harrington police officer arrived first, entered the residence through a partially opened garage door and saw a lifeless Ms. Nelson on the floor, DSP said. The officer then exited the home and waited for troopers to respond. Mr. Nelson subsequently came out of the garage and was taken into custody without incident, authorities said.

Ms. Nelson’s body was transported to the Delaware Division of Forensic Science, where an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause and manner of death.