Murder-Suicide Final Word on Pair of Educators : Crime: Police stand by their findings and close the case. Black activists who earlier criticized officials say they are now satisfied.

San Diego police Wednesday closed the investigation into the deaths of two San Diego school administrators, calling it a murder-suicide after a week of investigation that turned up personal writings by Assistant Supt. George Frey.

The bodies of Frey, 57, and Elizabeth Alene (Betty) Tomblin, 43--another official of the city school district--were found shot in the head at Frey’s home 11 days ago. Frey, who had been divorced three times, and Tomblin, who was married, purportedly were romantically involved.

Police have adhered to their preliminary conclusion of murder-suicide, which was reached by the six-member homicide team, a coroner and a forensic pathologist 10 hours after finding the bodies.

“The conclusion from the evidence is that George Frey shot Elizabeth Tomblin and then used the same gun to kill himself. Period,” said Lt. Gary Learn of the homicide unit.

According to a press release issued Wednesday by police, “The possibility that this crime was committed by another person was thoroughly pursued, but absolutely no evidence of this was found.”

Frey’s writings helped police ascertain the unfolding of events, the release said. The writings included a diary and a letter to his daughter, one source said. The contents of those writings have not been disclosed.

Although police closed the case Wednesday, they declined to answer a number of questions. They will not reveal who owned the .22-caliber semiautomatic pistol found next to the bodies. Nor will they say who notified them that Tomblin’s car was parked outside Frey’s Oak Park home.

Frey and Tomblin were romantically involved over the years, friends and a police official say. The two had begun breaking up in December, said one friend of Frey, who asked not to be identified.

“George cared very much for her,” said the friend, who added that Frey had discussed his frustration at being at the same social events as Tomblin but having to mask the nature of their relationship. Tomblin directed the district’s program evaluations department.

While Frey was involved with Tomblin, he also dated other women, friends said, but they added that they were uncertain whether that was an effort to conceal his relationship with Tomblin, a tall, athletic blonde who introduced him to skiing. Over the years, the two took a number of ski trips together, including a 10-day vacation last spring to Innsbruck, Austria, the friend said. The pair made the trip when 25 members of a ski club organized by the school district went to Austria. Club members, however, stayed in a different village.

Frey and Tomblin “were being discreet,” the friend said.

The revelation of a romance between Frey and Tomblin surprised some, including those who considered themselves their friends. Some flinched at learning what had been a carefully guarded secret, while others said it was simply not possible. The disclosure also complicated what had almost overnight become a controversial case.

Believing police had too hastily labeled the case a murder-suicide, some black leaders last week called for further investigation and even threatened to hire a private investigator. Also last week, seven members of the Black Federation picketed outside the police station in an effort to persuade police to more rigorously investigate the deaths.

Herb Cawthorne, the federation’s chief executive officer, said he now feels police have adequately investigated the case.

“It was a question not of police competence but of community confidence,” Cawthorne said. “There are things obviously that police cannot tell us or anyone for the sake of the privacy of the families. But we were satisfied.”

The Rev. George Walker Smith, who conducted a memorial service for Frey on Sunday, said he will no longer be pursuing the case and will not hire a private investigator.

“To me, it’s closed,” said Smith, who had known Frey for 25 years.

In a printed release, police spokesman Dave Cohen said Wednesday that the preliminary conclusion by police was based on more than “50 hours of combined investigative time. The evidence to support this conclusion was compelling, and the determination to make the release was made in order to allay community concerns that a multiple murderer might be at large.”

Despite the brouhaha over the case, he said, it was handled no differently than any other major homicide. “That is, it was thoroughly and completely investigated,” said Cohen, who added that police findings were buttressed by autopsies, information obtained by detectives and Frey’s writings.

The bodies of Frey and Tomblin were found along a short stairway leading to a sunken first-floor bedroom in Frey’s home. Frey had fallen on top of Tomblin, who had also been shot in the left thigh.

Tomblin’s husband, Douglas, a Bonita veterinarian who lives in La Mesa, declined to return calls from a reporter. Douglas Tomblin, who neighbors say has left town, reported his wife missing March 16 after she did not come home from work. The next day, he filed another report with the sheriff.

One police official said last week that Douglas Tomblin had been unaware that his wife was having an affair.