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North Carolina couple found dead one day after 40th anniversary in suspected murder-suicide
By Kelsie Cairns
Published August 03, 2026
A husband and wife found dead inside their North Carolina home are believed to have died in a murder-suicide, investigators say.
Stephen Larnell Willetts and Tracey Parker Willetts were both found shot dead inside their Wilmington, North Carolina, home on Thursday.
The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office said, "Based on the evidence gathered during the investigation, detectives believe this to be a murder-suicide in which the wife fatally shot her husband before taking her own life."
Stephen and Tracey Willetts were found shot dead inside their Wilmington, North Carolina, home in what deputies are calling a murder-suicide. (Facebook/Meta: Tracey Parker Willetts)
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Deputies responded to an EMS call early Thursday morning.
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One of the Willetts' smartwatches "detected a fall and automatically called 911 after the alarm was not canceled, prompting the emergency response," WWAY reported.
Stephen and Tracey Willetts had apparently just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary when they were discovered dead the next day by investigators. (Facebook/Meta: Tracey Parker Willetts)
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According to their Facebook profiles, it appears the couple had just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on Wednesday.
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The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office responded to an emergency call at the Willettses' home on Thursday. (Facebook/Meta: Tracey Parker Willetts)
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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)
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Stephen Willets was an avid paddleboarder alongside his wife Tracey. (Facebook/Meta: Stephen Willetts)
A neighbor told WECT that Stephen Willetts was "retired Army."
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Stephen Willetts was 65 years old when he was found dead, reports say. (Facebook/Meta: Stephen Willetts)
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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)
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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.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/north-carolina-couple-found-dead-one-day-after-40th-anniversary-suspected-murder-suicide