A man identified as Norman Lohr Jr., 50, traveled from Michigan to upstate New York and fatally shot his ex-wife, Melissa Pelc-Lohr, on October 27. Police said Lohr, who was reportedly obsessed with Pelc-Lohr, tracked her to her home in Brushton, NY.
Following the murder, state troopers initiated a 200-mile pursuit of Lohr, which ended in Lyons, NY. When law enforcement cornered Lohr’s vehicle after his tires were disabled by a spike strip, they discovered he had died by suicide from a gunshot wound to the head.
Pelc-Lohr’s daughter, Allison Pelc, stated that her mother had obtained two orders of protection against Lohr and that he had allegedly violated them multiple times without significant repercussions. A court hearing was scheduled for the day after the murder concerning Lohr’s past violations of one of the restraining orders.
Pelc expressed frustration with the legal system, noting that in Michigan, violating a personal protection order is not a criminal offense but a contempt of court charge, typically punishable by up to 93 days in jail and a $500 fine. She indicated that victims often need to pursue these actions themselves. "I guess what it took for me to get justice is for her to not be here anymore," Pelc said regarding her mother’s death.