In the coastal town of Old Orchard Beach, Maine, the life of Stacey Savoy, a 50-year-old Caucasian woman, came to a tragic end on November 16, 2009. A respected executive at the insurance company Unum, where she had worked for 28 years, Stacey was known for her kindness and dedication. Beyond her professional life, she was deeply involved in her community, volunteering with the Maine Search and Rescue Dogs, where she and her K9, Samson, were a certified wilderness airscent team.
The
circumstances of her death unfolded within the walls of her own home on Pleasant Street. Just a day after she had informed her husband of more than 20 years, Bruce Savoy, that she intended to seek a divorce, the couple was found deceased in their kitchen. A neighbor who regularly walked their two dogs made the grim discovery. Law enforcement officials investigating the scene determined that the incident was a murder-suicide.
Evidence found at the home pointed to a premeditated act by her husband, a former police officer in Old Orchard Beach and Wells who was serving as a reserve officer. Investigators believe Bruce Savoy used his service weapon, a. 40-caliber Glock pistol, to shoot his wife multiple times as she returned from the grocery store before taking his own life. Three suicide notes written by Bruce Savoy were found, citing the impending end of their marriage as the motive for his actions.
The news of the murder-suicide sent shockwaves through the community. While some neighbors initially remembered Bruce Savoy as a friendly volunteer firefighter and police officer, friends and family of Stacey emphasized that he should be remembered as the man who took his wife's life. The tragedy highlighted the devastating reality of domestic violence, prompting conversations among victim advocates about how such violence can occur even in relationships that appear normal to outsiders. There were no other suspects, and no arrests were made, as the case was closed with the determination that it was a murder-suicide.
