Neighbors reflect after husband, wife found dead from gunshot wounds in their own home

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - New Hanover County Sheriff’s deputies found a husband and wife shot to death inside their home on Rowsgate Lane in the Murrayville area Thursday.

“Nothing like this ever happens here,” neighbor Andy Johnson said. “I mean everybody’s real friendly, neighborly.”

The victims were identified as Stephen and Tracey Willetts.

Authorities said one of the victims’ smartwatches called 911, either from sensing a hard fall or a lack of pulse. EMS crews arrived on scene but could not get inside the home. They then called deputies, who entered and found the couple in the garage.

Johnson said he would regularly see Stephen Willetts walking his dog.

“He’s retired Army,” Johnson said. “I was in the Army myself, so we spent a lot of time talking in the afternoons and stuff as he came by, but he was very physically fit. He was into paddle boarding. It’s just a sad situation. He was a great guy from what I knew of him.”

Another neighbor, Wyatt Patrick, said he would run into Stephen nearly every day.

“The neighborhood is thoroughly shocked,” Patrick said. “I’m a runner, and he’d often ask me how my progress is going, or walking our dogs and just a brief hello. He was consistent and one of the friendlier people I’ve met around here.”

Both Patrick and Johnson said they never met Stephen’s wife, Tracey. Johnson said the whole situation has left the neighborhood feeling unsettled.

“You ride by, and everything still looks normal,” Johnson said. “And then to hear something like this — one, it’s scary. You don’t know what the circumstances are and what could be happening in your neighborhood. Either way, it’s just sad.”

Authorities said there is no threat to the public. Sheriff’s investigators are still working on the case and said they expect to release more details at a later time.