The death of Stacey Savoy, an insurance executive, at the hands of her husband, a former police officer, shows that domestic violence can strike anywhere, advocates for abuse victims said Wednesday.
They also said the case underscores the serious danger people can face at the point when they decide to leave a relationship.
Police say Bruce Savoy, a former officer in Old Orchard Beach and Wells who continued to serve as a reserve officer, shot his wife of more than 20 years with his service weapon, a Glock .40-caliber pistol.
He then shot himself.
Stacey Savoy had told her husband Sunday that she planned to get a divorce.
He killed her in the kitchen after she returned home from grocery shopping Monday, police said.
On Wednesday, her family and friends grieved the loss of a beloved woman, someone who was generous without seeking recognition and deeply committed to her work with the Maine Search and Rescue Dogs organization.
The couple lived for years on Pleasant Street, in a compact neighborhood, where most neighbors had no idea there was any problem in the relationship.
Advocates say victims of domestic abuse are typically people who are isolated by their partners and kept away from their friends and families.
But Savoy was an executive with Unum who traveled often for her job.
She also was involved in search-and-rescue missions with her dog, Samson.
"It serves to remind us that anybody can be a victim of domestic abuse, just like anyone could be an offender, a domestic violence abuser," said Emily Flowers, spokeswoman for Caring Unlimited, an advocacy group for abuse victims in York County.
"Although neighbors seem not to have suspected anything or have known anything – in our records, from what I can see, we don't have anything with her – I think it's safe to assume there was more going on than people knew," Flowers said.
Although neighbors didn't suspect abuse, they said they seldom saw Stacey Savoy outside the house.
Lois Galgay Reckitt, executive director of Family Crisis Services in Cumberland and Sagadahoc counties, said domestic violence homicide is the ultimate form of abuse, and it is most common when a victim is leaving a relationship.
"We talk to women about safety plans," Reckitt said.
"This woman may not have known she should have one. I think anyone who wants to get a divorce needs to think carefully about how they do that."
Another disturbing element of Monday's killing is that police say it was perpetrated by a peace officer.
"I think that it's unacceptable, but it's not unheard of, that a police officer would be an abuser," said Flowers.
Steve McCausland, spokesman for the state police, said the last time a police officer was involved in a domestic violence homicide was 1998, when a part-time deputy with the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office shot and killed his wife in South Paris, then killed himself.
"Every homicide is sad," McCausland said, "but this is troubling because of all that has been done in recent years, particularly with law enforcement, to address the problem of domestic violence.
"It's just troubling when it involves someone sworn to uphold the law," he said.
Staff Writer David Hench can be contacted at 791-6327 or at:
dhench@pressherald.com
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