NATCHEZ — What started as a house fire early Thursday morning led to the discovery of a murder that leaves a close-knit family behind to grieve in shock.

Natchez Police have ruled the death of Terry Lynn Farmer, 54, a homicide.

Police on patrol near Farmer’s house Thursday morning smelled the odor of smoke, which led them to her Shadow Lane residence.

Once the fire, which was too intense for the responding officers to manage, was extinguished by the Natchez Fire Department Farmer’s body was discovered.

Natchez Police Sgt. Craig Godbold said he believes the fire was intentionally started to destroy the scene.

While the Natchez Fire Department investigators and state fire marshal have not officially called the fire arson, Adams County Coroner James Lee said after seeing the scene he believes the fire was intentionally set.

Lee said Farmer’s autopsy was completed Thursday and revealed the cause of death to be blunt trauma to the head and a gunshot wound to the head.

Lee said it’s not possible to know which wound ended Farmer’s life.

“This is a true tragedy,” Lee said.

Farmer was found on the floor in her bedroom where the fire is believed to have originated.

Natchez Police Chief Mike Mullins said there was no sign of forced entry at the scene, and it is possible Farmer may have known her attacker.

“Right now everything is under investigation,” Mullins said.

Farmer leaves behind two children — Emily Farmer and LeShey Switzer — three grandchildren, two sisters and a brother, among other family members.

“She was a good mother and a wonderful grandmother,” Farmer’s older sister Deborah Walker said. “And she’s been a wonderful sister. Her family loved her very much.”

Farmer, who was living alone most recently, was a Natchez native who moved away for only a short time before returning to her hometown, Walker said.

Several years ago Farmer was in an auto accident in Texas that killed her son and husband.

The news, which started as a house fire and changed to murder late in the day, simply left the family reeling, Walker said.

“It’s just been an awful ordeal,” she said.

“We are just a close family, and it’s just a shock to us.”