Old Orchard Beach, ME: Police Investigate OOB Deaths As Murder-Suicide

Husband, Wife Found Dead In Home


OLD ORCHARD BEACH, Maine --


State and Old Orchard Beach police are investigating the deaths of a husband and wife as a murder-suicide.
Police said a neighbor who walks the couple's two dogs discovered the bodies of Bruce Savoy, 55, and Stacey Savoy, 50, in the couple's home at 19A Pleasant St. at about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Investigators said Bruce Savoy likely shot his wife Monday afternoon as she returned from the grocery store. He then likely shot himself, police said.
Police said they found a handgun by the bodies in the kitchen and three suicide notes that police said were written by Bruce Savoy, who cited the pending breakup of his marriage. The couple would have celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in January. They grew up in Old Orchard Beach and had no children.
Neighbors expressed shock, saying the Savoys were well known for being active with the state's search and rescue dog team.
"He went on to start the first Maine search and rescue team," said Cindy Tadsak, a neighbor. "He was a wonderful man. He knew Maine had a need for this. He owned his dogs, trained his dogs and (would) be up here at the track at the high school training the dogs."
"Everyone in the town knew him," said Cindy Tadsak, a neighbor. "He loved animals, loved people, children. I just can't imagine what could have happened."
"It's such a tragedy. I just can't even express words. She was just a lovely, sweet, beautiful girl, pretty as a picture," said Sandra Chretien, a neighbor.
The bodies have been taken to the state medical examiner's office in Augusta for autopsies.
Wells Town Manager Jane Duncan said Bruce Savoy has served four or five years as an assistant code enforcement officer for the town. He was also a part-time police officer for a year. Before that, he served as an animal control officer in Old Orchard.
Duncan described the murder-suicide as a tragic incident for the towns of Wells and Old Orchard Beach. She said Bruce Savoy was highly respected. The news was met with universal shock by all employees. Duncan said the town is greatly saddened and that sympathies are extended to the families of the Savoys.
Town employees couldn't reach either Bruce or Stacey Savoy on Tuesday morning, Duncan said. A neighbor called the town office and said yellow tape was around their house, but Duncan said news of the murder-suicide was not confirmed until some time after getting the call.
A co-worker said Bruce Savoy must have snapped.
"They were both very nice people, they'd do anything for anybody," said Scott DuMais, of the Old Orchard Fire Department. "They'd definitely help out anybody in the community that needed it. That was the type of people they were. They were both giving people."
Stacey Savoy was a vice president for the insurance company Unum.
Unum spokeswoman Mary Fortune released a statement Tuesday evening, saying, "We were saddened to learn today of the unexpected and tragic death of Stacey Savoy, assistant vice president of compensation. Stacey had been with Unum for 28 years. Our thoughts and prayers are with Stacey's family on this very sad day."