Authorities believe a murder-suicide occurred at a home in Wilmington, North Carolina, involving a married couple. Stephen Larnell Willetts and Tracey Parker Willetts were discovered dead, both from gunshot wounds.
The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office reported, “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.”
Stephen and Tracey Willetts were found shot dead inside their Wilmington, North Carolina, home in what deputies are calling a murder-suicide.
Deputies responded to an EMS call on Thursday morning. A smartwatch reportedly detected a fall and automatically called 911, leading to the emergency response.
The couple had recently marked their 40th wedding anniversary. A day later, investigators found them deceased. Photos on social media showed they were active paddleboarders, participating in the Wrightsville Beach paddleboarding community.
Stephen Willetts was described as a “retired Army” by a neighbor. He was 65 years old. A social media post by Fuller Royal, Tracey Willetts’ second cousin, noted that the couple lost their two sons between 2013 and 2014.
Royal expressed his sentiments, “I pray they are reunited with their boys and that everyone is whole, safe and at peace. God Bless them all.” The sheriff’s office confirmed that the investigation remains active and ongoing.