In the coastal city of Virginia Beach, Virginia, a community was shaken by the loss of Elizabeth Anne Engle Dowling, a 67-year-old female, on December 3, 2018. Known to her loved ones as 'Liz,' she was a beloved mother, grandmother, and wife. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she had dedicated her life to caring for others as a registered nurse and through her volunteer work with the Red Cross and a local homeless shelter.
The circumstances of her death were tragic and alarming.
Police were called to conduct a welfare check at a residence in the Ocean Lakes neighborhood after a coworker expressed concern. Upon entering the home, officers discovered Elizabeth and a man, identified as 62-year-old John Dowling, both suffering from gunshot wounds. John Dowling was pronounced dead at the scene, having sustained a gunshot wound to the head. Elizabeth, who was found with a gunshot wound to the torso, was transported to a nearby hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries.
In the initial stages of the investigation, law enforcement officials indicated that they were not actively searching for any suspects in connection with the double fatality. While they did not immediately classify the event as a murder-suicide, the ongoing investigation pointed towards that conclusion. Neighbors in the ordinarily quiet community described the couple as individuals who largely kept to themselves, leaving many to wonder about the events that led to the fatal incident. The case remains a somber memory in the community, highlighting a tragic end to the life of a woman remembered for her compassionate and giving spirit.
