'MORE THAN HE COULD HANDLE' FAMILY, FRIENDS LEFT SHOCKED BY COUPLE'S MURDER-SUICIDE.

Byline: Amy Raisin Darvish Staff Writer

SAUGUS - Despite a recent separation, high school sweethearts John and Veva Romero were working through their troubles and spent Thanksgiving together with their four children and two grandchildren.

So when John went to the family home Sunday morning to visit his wife, there was no hint of the tragedy that would be discovered in their bedroom later that day, after the couple's oldest daughter became worried when she could not reach either parent by phone.

Sometime between 10 and 11 a.m., according to Los Angeles County sheriff's detectives, the 44-year-old landscaper - who loved to fish and dote on his children - shot his wife, Veva, 43, at least twice before turning the 9mm gun on himself. The couple were alone at the house, authorities said.

By late afternoon, the home on quiet Banuelo Avenue in Saugus was swarming with investigators who later ruled the deaths a murder/suicide.

That chilling term, however, is confusing and difficult to utter for Veva's sister, Diane Tapia. She, along with other family members, who loved a couple they saw as warm and loving, will bury her younger sibling and brother-in-law Monday.

``I don't believe in my heart that he deliberately did this to my sister,'' said Tapia, 46, the second of nine siblings. ``I know he was in turmoil, and I know they were trying to work on things, but I don't believe in my heart that this was his plan.''

The couple leaves four children, ranging in age from 11 to 24.

The eldest, Christina Romero, plans to bring the two younger children - 16-year-old Tamra and 11-year-old Joseph - to live with her husband and two small children in their Santa Clarita home.

The Romeros' older son, John, recently turned 22.

Tapia said she had received a number of calls in the days since the shootings, some from friends who have not tried to conceal their outrage at her brother-in-law for his actions.

But Tapia and other family members have little room for anger now - they are not only mourning the death of their sister, mother and friend, but also grieving for a brother and father they deeply loved.

``He was very kind, very soft,'' said Tapia, who lives in Northridge. ``This was not one of those violent marriages. It wasn't like that. She was never in fear of him. Never. You go through problems in marriage. But I guess there was just so much confusion in the end.''

Tapia said her sister, named Josie at birth but known to everyone as Veva, always ``had her hair done neat, her nails well-manicured.'' She hoped to start a day-care business, Tapia said, so she could spend time with her grandchildren while earning a paycheck.

Detective Kevin Lowe of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said law enforcement had found no record of previous domestic violence between the couple.

``It appears there were some marital problems,'' Lowe said. ``The husband told relatives he was going to talk to his wife to solve some custody issues.

``Apparently, the problems were a little more than he could handle. He took her life and then took his own.''

The pair met at Northridge Junior High and married not long after graduating from Cleveland High in Reseda, family members said. They moved to the Santa Clarita Valley in 1988 and lived together in Saugus until about three weeks ago, when John moved out.

A trust has been established in the names of the couple's younger children, to help pay for the their living expenses. Donations can be made to Phillip Migdol and Christina Romero, ITF Joseph Romero and Tamra Romero, and sent to Citibank Saugus Financial Center, 26542 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus, CA 91351, attention Keri Shulman.

A funeral for the couple will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Chatsworth Foursquare Church, 10210 Canoga Ave., followed by burial at Oakwood Memorial Cemetery at 22601 Lassen St., Chatsworth.

For information about donating to the trust fund, call [phone].

Amy Raisin Darvish, [phone]

amy.raisin(at)dailynews.com