A Wilmington couple was found shot dead inside their home last Thursday, just one day after celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary, in what detectives now believe was a murder-suicide. Stephen Larnell Willetts and Tracey Parker Willetts were discovered after an emergency call from one of their smartwatches brought EMS and deputies to the house. The case remains active in New Hanover County.
The couple was identified after deputies responded to the Rowsgate Lane area when EMS requested law enforcement assistance, according to WECT. The smartwatch may have detected a hard fall or a lack of heartbeat before automatically dialing 911, and responders later found both victims inside the garage with apparent gunshot wounds.
The Willettses had marked their anniversary last Wednesday, according to the New York Post. The couple had also endured the deaths of their two sons within a year more than a decade ago, a painful history referenced in a social-media tribute cited by the Post.
Detectives Say Wife Shot Husband Before Taking Her Own Life
In a follow-up report, WECT reported that New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office detectives believe Tracey Willetts fatally shot her husband before taking her own life. Investigators said the case remains active and that additional information will be released as it becomes available. Authorities also said the incident appears to be isolated, with no known threat to the surrounding community.
Neighbors described Stephen Willetts as a retired Army veteran who regularly walked his dog and was known for paddleboarding. Fuller Royal, a lifelong friend of Stephen and Tracey’s second cousin, described Stephen as a devoted EMT and said he hoped the couple would be reunited with their sons and find peace.
