A husband and wife found dead inside their North Carolina home are believed to have died in a murder-suicide, investigators say.
Stephen Larnell Willetts and Tracey Parker Willetts were both found shot dead inside their Wilmington, North Carolina home on Thursday.
The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office said, « Based on the evidence gathered during the investigation, detectives believe this to be a murder-suicide in which the wife fatally shot her husband before taking her own life. »
TIKTOK INFLUENCER WHO ACCUSED ESTRANGED HUSBAND OF PEDOPHILIA FOUND DEAD IN POSSIBLE MURDER-SUICIDE
Deputies responded to an EMS call early Thursday morning.
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One of the Willetts’ smartwatches « detected a fall and automatically called 911 after the alarm was not canceled, prompting the emergency response, » WWAY reported.
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According to their Facebook profiles, it appears the couple had just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on Wednesday.
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The couple appeared to be avid paddleboarders, as depicted in several photos posted to social media, and was « well known in the Wrightsville Beach paddleboarding community, » WWAY reported.
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A neighbor told WECT that Stephen Willetts was « retired Army. »
SLAIN TIKTOK INFLUENCER’S EX BEGGED FOR YEARS TO LEAVE HUSBAND SHE OUTED AS ACCUSED PEDOPHILE
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A man named Fuller Royal, who said he was Tracey Willetts’ second cousin, made a post to social media saying that Stephen was a lifelong friend, and a devoted EMT.
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According to the post, the Willetts lost their two sons within a year of each other between the years of 2013 and 2014.
Royal wrote, « I can’t begin to imagine how much that hurt and what they went through. I pray they are reunited with their boys and that everyone is whole, safe and at peace. God Bless them all. »
The investigation is active and ongoing, the Sheriff’s Office says.
Source link : https://www.foxnews.com/us/north-carolina-couple-found-dead-one-day-after-40th-anniversary-suspected-murder-suicide
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Publish date : 2026-08-03 15:46:00
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