In the winter of 2015, the life of 33-year-old Sarah Elizabeth Klein-Drewer was tragically cut short in what police determined to be a murder-suicide. On February 3rd, the Scottsdale, Arizona community was shaken by the news that Sarah, a dedicated mother of two, had been killed by her husband, Douglas Drewer, before he took his own life. The violent act unfolded on the sidewalk outside of their home near 68th Street and Chaparral Road.
Sarah, born on March 11, 1981, was a lifelong
Arizona resident who was deeply embedded in her community. Professionally, she was a respected MRI/CT technician at Scottsdale Healthcare, known for her technical skill and compassion towards her patients. Her commitment to others extended beyond her career; she was a community worker dedicated to combating domestic violence, an active member of the Pueblo School PTA, and a volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She also found joy in coaching youth T-ball and soccer. In the year leading up to her death, Sarah had embarked on a personal transformation, losing 80 pounds and finding renewed strength and balance in her life.
Behind the facade of a seemingly normal life, however, there was a troubled history of domestic turmoil. Court records revealed that Sarah had sought protection from her husband on multiple occasions. She had filed an order of protection against Douglas Drewer as far back as 2009, citing threats and expressing fear for her safety and that of her children. Just days before her death, on January 30, 2015, she had filed another order of protection. Following the issuance of this order, police had confiscated several weapons from the home.
On that fateful Tuesday, the situation escalated dramatically. A construction worker nearby heard a child's screams coming from the Drewer's home and intervened, managing to wrestle a gun away from Douglas. He then took one of the children and Sarah outside. However, Douglas Drewer emerged from the house with another firearm and shot his wife before turning the gun on himself. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. One of their two children witnessed the horrific event. Douglas Drewer, 46, was a hospital worker, and colleagues expressed shock, stating they had seen no indication of his violent potential. The tragedy left their two children, a 9-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son, without their parents.
