A North Carolina couple was found dead in their Wilmington home on Thursday, one day after celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary, with investigators concluding it was a murder-suicide involving a firearm.
Stephen Larnell Willetts, 68, and Tracey Parker Willetts, 65, were discovered by authorities following an emergency call triggered by a smartwatch alert. The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office stated that evidence gathered during the investigation led detectives to believe Tracey Willetts fatally shot her husband before taking her own life.
The couple’s deaths occurred just hours after emergency responders were dispatched to their home due to a fall detected by one of their smartwatches. The device automatically contacted 911 after the alarm was not canceled, prompting deputies to respond to the residence.
According to social media posts and local reports, the Willettses were described as active members of the Wrightsville Beach paddleboarding community. A neighbor identified Stephen Willetts as a retired Army veteran, while a social media post from a relative suggested he had also worked as an EMT. The couple had shared photos of their anniversary celebration on Facebook the day before their deaths.
Investigators have not released additional details about the circumstances leading to the incident. The case remains under review by the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, which has not provided further statements beyond the initial assessment of a murder-suicide.
The couple is survived by extended family members, though no immediate next of kin have been publicly identified in available reports.