A North Carolina couple was found dead in their Wilmington home on Thursday, hours after celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. Investigators with the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office believe the deaths of Stephen Larnell Willetts and Tracey Parker Willetts constitute a murder-suicide, with the wife having fatally shot her husband before taking her own life.
Deputies responded to the residence early Thursday morning following an EMS call. The response was prompted when one of the couple’s smartwatches detected a fall and automatically called 911 after the alarm was not canceled. Authorities stated that evidence gathered at the scene led detectives to their murder-suicide conclusion.
According to social media, the Willettses had celebrated their 40th anniversary on Wednesday. Online profiles also depicted them as avid paddleboarders, and they were reportedly well-known in the Wrightsville Beach paddleboarding community.
A neighbor informed WECT that Stephen Willetts was a retired Army veteran. A social media post from Fuller Royal, who identified himself as Tracey Willetts’ second cousin, stated that Stephen Willetts was also a devoted EMT and a lifelong friend. Royal’s post also mentioned that the couple had lost both of their sons within a year of each other between 2013 and 2014, expressing hope that the couple was reunited with their children.
The investigation into the deaths is active and ongoing. For individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts or mental health crises, resources are available including the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 and the website SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.