Elizabeth Marie Beth Spence, also known as Elizabeth "Beth" Marie Wise, was a 36-year-old woman from Steelton, Pennsylvania. She tragically passed away on May 14, 2021, as a victim of domestic violence. Elizabeth was born on September 19, 1984, in Topeka, Kansas, to Penni Spence and Joel D. Spence. She is survived by her children, Chelsea E. Wise, Jacob J. Wise, and Hazel A.
Womelsdorf, as well as her parents, siblings, and other family members.
Elizabeth's death was the result of a murder-suicide committed by her husband, Brian Womelsdorf. On May 17, 2021, Womelsdorf shot Elizabeth multiple times before turning the gun on himself. Their infant daughter witnessed the horrific incident, while their other two children, aged 10 and 14, were asleep upstairs. Elizabeth had previously filed a police report against her husband earlier that year after he assaulted her, but she did not seek a protection from abuse order.
The case highlighted significant issues with the handling of domestic violence incidents and the need for better protection for victims. Elizabeth's parents, Joel and Penni Spence, have since spoken out about the tragedy, calling for changes to the law to better protect victims of domestic violence. They emphasized that the warning signs of Womelsdorf's abusive behavior were present but were mishandled or ignored.
Elizabeth was much loved by her family, friends, and coworkers, and her death has left a profound impact on all who knew her. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions were suggested to be made to the Victims Witness Assistance Program in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
This tragic event underscores the importance of addressing domestic violence and providing adequate support and protection for victims to prevent such heartbreaking outcomes in the future.
