CAMDEN – An antique dealer and the girlfriend he shot to death before killing himself had been together for about a year, but she apparently wanted to end the relationship, investigators said.

Detectives during the weekend were questioning friends and associates of Paul Turnbull, 49, and Kimberly Palmer, 29, of Northport, who were found slain Friday evening in Turnbull’s farmhouse on Route 52.

Palmer, whose body was on the kitchen floor, was shot twice in the head; Turnbull was shot once in the head and was found in the living room, an antique Colt revolver by his side.

Authorities had immediately characterized the deaths as a murder-suicide.

“They had been going out together for about a year, and [Palmer] also worked for him in his antique business,” said Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the state Department of Public Safety.

No written notes were found at the scene, although Turnbull had left a distraught message Friday afternoon on his son’s telephone answering machine that led local and state police to the scene.

Palmer had told friends that she was hoping to end the relationship, McCausland said.

“Some of [Turnbull’s] associates, or people who knew him, said he seemed to be depressed of late,” the spokesman added.

Investigators said Turnbull was believed to have shot Palmer between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., left the telephone message, and then shot himself.

Turnbull had no history of violence and had not been the target of a protection order, according to Camden police.

Palmer had a 4-year-old son, who has been placed with relatives, McCausland said.

No autopsies were planned, and the bodies were taken to a local funeral home.