Over the weekend, a tragic double murder-suicide occurred at Ohio’s Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, resulting in the deaths of three base employees, leaving their friends in shock.
The deceased have been identified as 1st Lt. Jaime Gustitus, Jaymee Prichard, and Jacob Prichard, as reported by WDTN.
Gustitus, 25, served with the Air Force’s 711th Human Performance Wing. Meanwhile, Jacob Prichard, 34, was employed at the Air Force Research Laboratory, and Jaymee Prichard, 33, worked for the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.
WHIO reports that Jacob Prichard fatally shot his wife, Jaymee, late Friday night or in the early hours of Saturday. Around 2 a.m. on Saturday, he broke into Gustitus’s apartment, where he ended her life.
He then transported his wife’s body in the trunk of a car to the West Milton Municipal parking lot, where he took his own life after opening the trunk.
The news station notes that the Prichards and Gustitus were professional acquaintances.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic event, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones affected,” said Lt. Gen. Linda Hurry, Deputy Commander, Air Force Materiel Command. “We stand with them as they navigate this unimaginable pain, and we offer our sincerest condolences to all impacted by this heartbreaking loss. We are committed to fully investigating this incident and ensuring the families and co-workers of the victims receive the support they need during this difficult time.”
Officials said the murder-suicide was being investigated by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations are investigating and that there was information they could not yet share.
A friend of the Prichards told WDTN that had trouble believing Jacob Prichard could do what investigators say he did.
“Surely this can’t be the Jacob that I know,” said Whitney Pennybacker, who attended high school with him. “Not the one we went to school with.”
“He was just so kind and genuine and sweet,” she said. “I was just in complete disbelief that he would be capable of doing something like this.”
