In the quiet city of Charlottesville, Virginia, a bright and vibrant life was tragically cut short on February 26, 2017. Whitney Leigh French, a 33-year-old female, was found deceased in her home on Monticello Road. Her death was the result of a domestic-related homicide.
Whitney, a talented and creative individual, was a Senior Product Designer at WillowTree, Inc. She was known by friends and family as a passionate and enthusiastic person with a boundless spirit. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she later moved to Charlottesville in 1998, graduated from Albemarle High School, and earned a marketing degree from Virginia Tech. Her interests were eclectic, ranging from hiking and sailing to her professional pursuits.
The circumstances of her death were a grim discovery made by her mother, Eileen French. After being unable to reach her, Eileen let herself into Whitney's home to find both her daughter and her husband, 37-year-old Rafal Konrad Kalemba, with gunshot wounds. The Charlottesville Police Department swiftly ruled the event a murder-suicide, concluding that Kalemba shot and killed his wife before taking his own life.
The investigation revealed that the couple had been experiencing marital difficulties. Kalemba had been taking pictures and videos of Whitney and her belongings, including a personal journal, without her knowledge. On the night before the incident, Whitney had stayed with her parents out of concern that Kalemba might try to argue with her. The case was closed following the confirmation of the murder-suicide, with authorities believing Kalemba acted alone. In the wake of this tragedy, Whitney's family encouraged donations to charities supporting women in need, honoring her memory by seeking to help others escape similar fates.
