On December 29, 2024, Donald Roy Rutkowski Sr., a 66-year-old white male, was found deceased in his residence on Islandview Drive near Walkabout Road in Hope Mills, North Carolina. The discovery was made during a wellness check conducted by local authorities around 10:30 a.m. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound, and the incident was classified as a homicide.
Following an investigation, the Hope Mills Police Department identified the victim's wife, 61-year-old Tammy Lynn Rutkowski, as the primary suspect. She was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Authorities reported that she was being held without bond. The motive behind the shooting has not been publicly disclosed, and the case remains under investigation.
Donald Roy Rutkowski Sr. was born on January 1, 1958, in Reading, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Josephine Moyer of Wernersville and the late Donald R. Snyder. Before retiring, he worked as a Regional Supervisor in sanitation services. He is survived by his daughter, Sonya Wolfe of Altoona; adopted sons, William "Billy" Helmick and his twin brother Frankie Helmick; sisters, Donna Hill, Kimberly Snyder, Kelly Snyder, and Mary Kline; brothers, Gene and John Rutkowski; and granddaughters, Skyla Wolfe and Sadie Wolfe. He was predeceased by his son, Donald R. “Scoot” Rutkowski Jr.
The tragic death of Donald Roy Rutkowski Sr. adds to the growing list of domestic-related homicides in North Carolina. According to the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence, there were numerous such incidents reported in 2024, highlighting the ongoing issue of domestic violence in the state.
