Police at a murder scene (AP)

A New Mexico judge and several of her pets were killed in what authorities suspect was a murder-suicide by her husband.

Diane Albert, 65, Eric Pinkerton, 63, and "many dead animals" were discovered inside their home on Ranchitos Road in Los Ranchos De Albuquerque on Friday after a friend of the couple received "a distressing message from Eric Pinkerton," as per the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office.

Pinkerton, according to the sheriff's office, shot Albert and the animals before turning the gun on himself.

According to KOAT-TV in Albuquerque, a sheriff's office dispatch stated, "He left a voicemail to his friend stating that he murdered his wife and his dogs and his cat. And he is about to murder himself."

Albert was a judge in the Los Ranchos Municipal Court, and has previously worked as a planning and zoning commissioner for the North Valley area.

The killings were the third fatal domestic violence incident in the Albuquerque area over Thanksgiving weekend, according to the Journal.

The motive behind the murder-suicide was not yet apparent.