OLD ORCHARD BEACH — An apparent murder suicide has shocked neighbors and friends of Bruce Savoy, 55, and his wife, Stacey Savoy, 50, who were found dead in their Pleasant Street home Tuesday morning.
State Police believe that Bruce shot Stacey Monday afternoon after she came home from the grocery store, and then shot himself. A neighbor found their bodies Tuesday morning upon making entry to walk the couple’s dogs. The police were notified around 9:20 a.m.
A handgun was found near the bodies and three suicide notes, written by Bruce, were found inside the home. In the letters, Bruce cited the pending break up of his marriage, according to police. He and Stacey had been married for about 20 years and had no children.
Bruce was the assistant code enforcement officer in Wells and was also a part-time Wells police officer. He had worked for the police departments in both Wells and Old Orchard Beach, and had served as animal control officer for both communities. He was also a volunteer firefighter in Old Orchard Beach.
Stacey was a vice president at Unum Insurance.
The couple were active members of the Maine Search and Rescue Dogs team.
“He was a nice guy. This is totally unexpected. It’s shocking,” said Old Orchard Beach resident Dana Furtado, who knew Bruce from volunteer fire training.
“In this quiet neighborhood, nothing ever happens,” said Winnie Binette, who lives near the Savoys and said she walks her dog through the neighborhood four or five times a day.
“I don’t understand it,” said neighbor Paula Quinlin, who described the Savoys as “a nice couple.”
“They were a couple that was always together,” she said.
Former town councilor Sonia Simpson Gardner said that she had known Bruce for many years. Gardner said that her grandson was interested in being a firefighter, and that Bruce was a great mentor to him.
“He was a wonderful guy,” she said. “They were a great couple. I don’t know what could have happened. This is a big loss for Old Orchard Beach.”
Wells Selectmen Chairman Richard Clark, at Tuesday night’s selectmen’s meeting, described Savoy as “a well-liked and well-respected individual.”
“We are all shocked and heartbroken,” Clark said.
The investigation into the deaths is ongoing.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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