Police: Domestic violence leads to Paoli murder/suicide

The death of a husband and wife in Paoli is being called a tragic example of what can occur in the cycle of domestic violence.

In an extensive Facebook post, the Paoli Police Department outlined the number of times they had been called to the Paoli residence of William and Amber Tracy beginning on Tuesday, July 30, 2019.

The Tracys were found unresponsive by a relative on Wednesday, July 31, 2019. Police were called to the Tracy residence at about 11:30 a.m. by the relative who was concerned because they were unable to reach the couple by phone. The relative was also aware of recent domestic issues between the couple.

During this response, the officer made several attempts to make contact with someone in the home to no avail and the officer was unable to see inside the home. The officer told the relative that he did not see any evidence of a crime or evidence of distress and therefore was unable to force entry into the home.

In order to breach and exterior door to gain entry to a private residence, a police officer must have clear and articulable facts to justify the warrantless entry.

Before leaving, the officer encouraged the relative to call if further assistance was needed.

At about 12:50 p.m., police received a second call from the relative who had entered the home through an unlocked window and found William and Amber Tracy unresponsive.

The officer who had responded to the earlier call then returned to the home and found the couple deceased. The officer then secured the home and the Orange County Coroner and Sheriff’s Department were called to the residence along with officers from the Paoli Police Department.

The coroner confirmed the identity of the individuals as William Tracy, 29, and Amber Tracy, 28. The couple lived in the home with their two children, ages nine and seven.

The children were staying with their paternal grandmother at the time. The children were placed with other family members after police determined they had not been victims of any crime.

The bodies of Amber and William were taken to the Lawrence County Morgue where autopsy exams were completed on August 1 by Forensic Pathologist Dr. James Jacobi. According to Jacobi, Amber and William both died from single gunshot wounds to the head. Amber’s death was determined to be a homicide and William’s death was ruled a suicide.

According to police, investigators determined that Amber and William both died in the early morning or at about 2:30 a.m. on July 31. Police believe the time between the two deaths was minimal.

Using the crime scene processing and evidence collection, witness interviews, digital evidence review, and post-mortem findings, police did piece together a series of events that began on July 30, 2019, that led to the shooting.

Officers were called to the residence twice on July 30, 2019. Both calls were the result of an ongoing domestic dispute between Amber and William. Both calls to police came from an unrelated third party and not the relative who found the couple the next day.

The first call was initiated at 9:34 p.m. The caller heard loud yelling outside the Tracy home and told the Orange County Central Dispatcher that they felt a domestic dispute was taking place. An officer responded and confirmed that the Tracys were the source of the disturbance and spoke to each of them separately at the home. The officer assessed each of them for injuries or other evidence of domestic violence while evaluating their potential for future violence.

Both Amber and William were asked multiple times by the office if they had been victims of a crime. Both denied and there was no visible evidence to the contrary, according to police.

Police said that Amber told the office she was safe and did not want to leave. The officer also determined both of them had access to a phone if the need for assistance arose. Both also told the officer they could leave the property if they wished. Both independently stated multiple times they did not need further assistance from police.

Before leaving, the officer advised both parties if further was needed, they should call 911.

The officer did document the encounter and also noted the situation had the potential to escalate. He also notified other officers in the department to be aware if any further calls came in regarding the Tracys.

The second call to the Tracy residence came during the shift overlap and a different Paoli Officer responded. An Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy also responded.

During the second response, both Tracys admitted to having a loud, verbal dispute, however, both independently denied anything physical had taken place, according to police. The officers did not observe any signs of a crime or any reasons to make an arrest. In accordance with state law and department policy, the officers could not remove anyone from the home against their will.

Although foul play has been eliminated as a possibility in this incident Paoli Police Investigators are continuing to follow up on the case. If anyone has information they feel would aid in the investigation, contact Detective Brandon Mesarosh or Sgt. Tyler Phillips at 812-723-2836. Calls are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Tips can remain anonymous.

Police called what occurred a tragic example of what can occur when someone finds themselves in the “Cycle of Domestic Violence.” This cycle is made up of four phases including buildup, violent incident, reconciliation, and hope.

When someone finds themselves in the “Cycle of Domestic Violence”, it is not uncommon for them to not to seek help, accept assistance, or leave the situation. There are many reasons for this but primarily, it is due to fear of the consequences or fear that no one will believe them if it is reported. When a victim fails to leave and a tragic event occurs, it is important to remember it is not their fault, police said. In their minds, there may be a reason they felt they had to stay.

If you find yourself falling into the “Cycle of Domestic Violence”, police strongly encourage you to seek help.

It is a common misconception that police are required to make an arrest when called to a domestic dispute. If you reach out to an agency, they will always attempt to assist, police said. They pledge to do anything with their legal right to aid in keeping victims safe including the protection of minor children who may be witnessing the violence or threats of violence.