AUGUSTA — The deaths of an Augusta couple whose bodies were found in a vehicle on a dirt road Friday in Manchester have been ruled a double homicide, Maine State Police said Saturday night.

Eric Williams, 35, and his girlfriend, Bonnie S. Royer, 26, were shot to death, state police said. Their bodies were found early Friday morning in a sport utility vehicle parked on Sanford Road in Manchester, not far from the home they shared on Easy Street in Augusta.

State police announced that they couple were homicide victims after autopsies were completed Saturday on them by the state medical examiner’s office. The autopsies confirmed that both died from gunshot wounds, said Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

Police found the bodies of the couple after responding to a 911 call from one of them about 3:30 a.m. Friday.

Detectives spent Saturday interviewing friends and family of the couple and police continue to seek anyone who had contact with them on Thursday and Friday, McCausland said.

State police have received several tips from the public and detectives plan to follow up with each call that has been received, McCausland said. Anyone with information on the couple is asked to call state police in Augusta at 624-7076.

Little information about the couple was available on Saturday.

Williams had the nickname “Chunkie,” including it on his Facebook page. He grew up in Augusta and had been a manager at Kellermeyer Building Services until sometime this year.

Williams, like Royer, went to Cony High School in Augusta. He also attended Kennebec Valley Technical College, studying electrical line work.

A number of people posted messages of sympathy on Royer’s Facebook page. Several alluded to her daughter, McKenzie.

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