In the quiet town of Elmore, Vermont, the life of 58-year-old Mary Lisa Kelley, a white female, came to a tragic end on November 29, 2021. Known to her friends and community as Lisa, she was a dedicated social worker for the Vermont Department for Children and Families, a mother, and a grandmother. Her death, which occurred at her home on King Road, was the result of a gunshot wound to the torso.
On that fateful Monday morning, shortly before 7 a.m., Kelley placed a distressing 911 call.
She reported to the dispatcher that she and her 61-year-old husband, Lawrence Jay Kennedy, were in the process of separating. She expressed fear, stating that he had threatened to harm her and damage her belongings while she was at work. During this call for help, the dispatcher heard a single gunshot, and the line fell silent as Kelley became unresponsive.
Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies, including the Morristown and Stowe police departments, the Lamoille County Sheriff's Department, and the Vermont State Police, rushed to the scene. Upon entering the residence, they discovered both Kelley and Kennedy deceased inside. The investigation that followed determined that Kennedy had fatally shot his wife before turning the rifle on himself.
The Chief Medical Examiner's Office in Burlington later confirmed the cause and manner of both deaths. Mary Lisa Kelley's death was officially ruled a homicide, while Lawrence Jay Kennedy's was determined to be a suicide. The investigation concluded that there was no ongoing danger to the public, as the incident was a contained act of domestic violence. No other suspects were sought, and no arrests were made in connection with the murder-suicide. The event left the community to mourn the loss of a woman described as a fierce advocate for children and a loyal friend with an infectious laugh.
