A married couple discovered dead in their North Carolina home are believed to have died in a murder-suicide, according to investigators.
Stephen Larnell Willetts and Tracey Parker Willetts were found fatally shot Thursday inside their residence in Wilmington, North Carolina.
The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office said that, based on evidence collected during the investigation, detectives believe Tracey Willetts shot her husband before turning the gun on herself.
Stephen and Tracey Willetts were found shot to death inside their Wilmington, North Carolina, home in a case deputies are investigating as a murder-suicide. (Facebook/Meta: Tracey Parker Willetts)
Deputies were sent to the home early Thursday after an emergency medical services call was triggered.
WWAY reported that one of the couple’s smartwatches detected a fall and automatically contacted 911 when the alert was not canceled, prompting first responders to go to the scene.
Stephen and Tracey Willetts appeared to have marked their 40th wedding anniversary just one day before investigators found them dead. (Facebook/Meta: Tracey Parker Willetts)
Posts on their Facebook profiles indicate the couple had celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on Wednesday.
The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office responded to an emergency call at the Willettses’ home on Thursday. (Facebook/Meta: Tracey Parker Willetts)
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.
Tracey Willetts holds a headstand pose on her paddleboard. (Facebook/Meta: Tracey Parker Willetts)
Stephen Willets was an avid paddleboarder alongside his wife Tracey. (Facebook/Meta: Stephen Willetts)
A neighbor told WECT that Stephen Willetts was “retired Army.”
Stephen Willetts was 65 years old when he was found dead, reports say. (Facebook/Meta: Stephen Willetts)
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.
According to the post, the Willettses lost their two sons within a year of each other between the years of 2013 and 2014.
Investigators found Stephen and Tracey Willetts dead of apparent gunshot wounds on Thursday. (Facebook/Meta: Tracey Parker Willetts)
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.
