Marsha Stewart, a 40-year-old woman from York, PA, tragically lost her life on July 31, 2019. She was murdered by her estranged husband, Courtney "Corey" Stewart, who then took his own life. Marsha Stewart had recently moved out of their shared home in Conewago Township but returned to retrieve some of her belongings. Upon her return, she was fatally shot multiple times by Courtney Stewart, who then shot himself in the head.
The couple's two daughters, aged 8 and 12, were present in the house at the time of the incident but were unharmed and did not witness the shootings. The police were called to the scene after a neighbor was alerted by the younger daughter that her parents were fighting. Investigators found the bodies of Marsha and Courtney Stewart in an upstairs bedroom, along with a 9mm handgun used in the crime.
Courtney Stewart had a history of domestic violence, having been arrested in 2016 for punching Marsha Stewart in the face. He pleaded guilty to a summary offense of harassment, and the original charge of simple assault was dropped. This allowed him to retain ownership of firearms, which he later used to commit the murder-suicide.
The tragic incident has left the community in shock, as Marsha Stewart was described as a sweet and soft-spoken individual who was trying to reconcile with her husband and stay together for the sake of their children. The case has raised questions about the handling of domestic violence incidents and the implications of dropped charges on individuals' ability to own firearms.
The investigation concluded that Marsha Stewart's death was a homicide, and no autopsies were performed. The couple's daughters are now being cared for by relatives.
