Rebecka Jeanann Pearce, a 30-year-old woman from Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, tragically lost her life on November 11, 2016. Rebecka, who had bipolar disorder and anxiety, was in the process of getting a divorce from her husband, Jeremy Pearce, a sheriff's deputy. She was staying at her parents' house with her two young daughters, aged 2 and 6, during this time. On the night of her death, Rebecka called the police to report a break-in at her parents' home. When officers arrived, they found damage to the back door and heard gunshots. Inside the house, they discovered Rebecka and Jeremy Pearce both dead from gunshot wounds. The incident was determined to be a murder-suicide, with Jeremy Pearce breaking into the home and shooting Rebecka before taking his own life. Their two daughters were found unharmed in a locked bedroom and were placed with family members.
The couple had a troubled marriage and were in the midst of a custody battle over their children. Jeremy Pearce had previously filed for a protective order against Rebecka, claiming that her bipolar disorder made her dangerous to their children. He had also had her involuntarily committed to a mental hospital, alleging that she was unstable. Despite these claims, Rebecka was described by those who knew her as a loving mother and a dedicated hairstylist who had worked at Salon Blu for over ten years. Her colleagues and friends remembered her as someone who lived for her two precious girls and made everyone who knew her better for it.
The tragic events of that night left the community in shock. Neighbors were instructed to stay inside and lock their doors as the police responded to the scene. Granville County Sheriff Brindell Wilkins, who knew Jeremy Pearce, expressed his complete shock and sadness at the news, describing Jeremy as a calm and mild-mannered person. The investigation into the incident confirmed that it was a case of domestic violence, and there were no other individuals involved. The community mourned the loss of Rebecka Pearce and grappled with the devastating impact of domestic violence on families and neighborhoods.
