In a tragic turn of events stemming from a family dispute, 53-year-old Cheryl P. McCarthy was killed in Scottsdale, Arizona, on May 28, 2020. Her life was cut short in the driveway of a home near Hayden and Osborn roads, where she was fatally shot by her brother, 50-year-old Roger Lee Paris.
The incident unfolded as part of a murder-suicide, with authorities indicating that a family disagreement was the catalyst for the violence.
Before killing his sister, Paris had suffocated his 76-year-old aunt, Donna M. Archer, in her car. After shooting McCarthy, Roger Lee Paris then took his own life.
Friends of McCarthy described her as a smart, compassionate person with a heart dedicated to service, who was a rock in many people's lives. They indicated they were aware of her brother's significant financial problems, which included a conviction for a financial crime that hindered his ability to find regular employment. McCarthy, a Navy veteran who served during the 1991 Gulf War, had plans to take a leave of absence from her job as a lead developer at Aetna to travel the world. She was in the process of arranging for her aunt, who had dementia, to be cared for by other family members in Washington state when the tragedy occurred. She was reportedly ambushed and shot from behind.
