In the quiet community of Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania, the life of 45-year-old Carrie Lyn Martini was brought to a tragic and violent end on the evening of June 26, 2018. A woman known for her vibrant energy and creative spirit, she was the owner of a local landscaping business and a karate school, through which she empowered many in her community. Her friends and family remember her as a deeply spiritual person, an active member of the Light of Christ Church, who saw beauty and divinity in the
natural world around her.
The night of her death, a heated argument shattered the peace of her Eisenhauer Road home. Neighbors, alarmed by the sounds of shouting followed by multiple gunshots, promptly alerted the authorities. When Pennsylvania State Police arrived at the scene, they discovered a grim tableau. Carrie Martini was found deceased just outside her front door, a victim of a gunshot wound to her upper torso.
Further investigation inside the residence revealed two more bodies. The scene painted a clear picture of a devastating love triangle that had spiraled into a fatal confrontation. The investigation concluded that Carrie's 60-year-old ex-boyfriend, William Rowan, had appeared at her home to confront her and her new partner, 61-year-old Dale Thomas. In a fit of rage, Rowan shot and killed both Martini and Thomas before turning the gun on himself, committing suicide at the scene.
The community was left to grapple with the sudden and senseless loss of a woman described as a bright light, known for her generosity and her passion for life. Her pastor remembered her as 'bigger than life,' a creative and giving soul who was deeply connected to her faith and her community. In the wake of the tragedy, there were no arrests to be made, as the perpetrator had taken his own life, leaving behind a legacy of violence and a community to mourn the loss of a beloved member.
