Two prominent community members were discovered dead in their College Township home early yesterday morning in an apparent double homicide.

The State College Police Department is seeking the couple's son for questioning.

Police found William "Bill" Opdenhoff, 56, and his wife Georgeann, 54, in the living room of their 319 Hill Drive home after a female relative told police she was unable to reach the couple.

Police Chief Tom King said the couple died of "trauma." Use of a firearm has not been ruled out, but police are waiting for autopsy results to make a determination, King said.

D. Opdenhoff

William Opdenhoff was a former superintendent of the State College Area School District; Georgeann Opdenhoff was an instructional support teacher at the district's Panorama Village Elementary School.

Police are attempting to locate the couple's 24-year-old son, Daniel Opdenhoff, who also lived in the home. He is about 5 feet 11 inches tall, 150 pounds, with short blond hair and blue eyes; he also might have a short beard. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact police immediately. Police advise people not to approach the man themselves.

"Daniel's present condition, state of mind is unknown," King said.

Daniel Opdenhoff has not been named a suspect in the case, but King said police want to talk to him to find out if he is OK and if he has any information about the crime.

Police could not say yesterday when Daniel Opdenhoff was last seen.

William and Georgeann Opdenhoffs' other two children, Kristen and Matthew -- who do not live at the home -- have been accounted for.

King said police are investigating whether there were previous disturbances at the home. The house, which is located about 1.5 miles from campus, is set back from the road in a secluded wooded lot overlooking Slab Cabin Park. Neighbors said it is a quiet area and were surprised to see police in the neighborhood.

Police arrived at the Opdenhoffs' home at about 12:15 a.m. yesterday. The last known contact with the couple was late Saturday afternoon when a relative spoke with Georgeann Opdenhoff on the telephone.

Police found no signs of forced entry. Although police are still investigating, all indications are that the couple was killed in their home, King said. Police have not yet determined the order in which the murders occurred. Three vehicles were found at the home; two belong to William and Georgeann Opdenhoff and the other belongs to Daniel Opdenhoff, King said.

William Opdenhoff was superintendent of the State College Area School District from 1993 until 1999 and remained active in education in the area. Georgeann Opdenhoff worked one-on-one with teachers and children to aid students with learning difficulties. Both worked in the district's elementary schools in the early 1970s.

"We lost two friends and colleagues today," Superintendent Patricia Best said yesterday. "Bill's leadership as superintendent was notable in his concern for students and his commitment to help us all function as a team."

Best said Georgeann Opdenhoff would be remembered for her "gentleness, kindness and her ready smile."

She was a wonderful teacher who was committed to her students, Best said.

Former co-workers were upset when they heard the news this morning, Best said. "Shock is the first response ... followed by a deep sadness."

Police Chief King also was a friend of the couple.

"It's very distressing, and it's a very sad day for the entire community," he said. "It hits you a little more when it's someone close to you."

The school district notified its traumatic events team, which is preparing teachers to talk to students about the tragedy, Best said. The schools will send letters home to the students' guardians today.

Neighbor Richard Doyle, a Penn State professor who is teaching at University of California-Berkeley this semester, remembers the Opdenhoffs as a friendly couple.

Doyle said he didn't know Daniel Opdenhoff very well but often talked to his parents about gardening and their golden retriever.

"They were just trying to have a nice, quiet life in central Pennsylvania," he said.