SPRING HILL, Fla. — A reported kidnapping in Hudson ended with an off-duty Pinellas County deputy and a woman found dead from gunshot wounds in Spring Hill, authorities said.
According to the Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO), deputies responded to reports of an aggravated assault in the Phyllis Lane area of Hudson at around 5:35 p.m. on Aug. 9.
WATCH: Spring Hill kidnapping ends in murder-suicide involving off-duty deputy: PSO
Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said the victim and her two children were returning home when they saw the victim's ex-boyfriend, identified as Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Troy Savetz, standing in the yard.
Deputies said the victim and Savetz began arguing over some of Savetz's materials, and the victim attempted to call 911 before Savetz took the phone from her.
The victim told her children to go inside and call 911, per PSO. The child called 911, identified Savetz as the suspect, and said he was a Pinellas deputy, according to Sheriff Nocco.
"The child was absolutely extremely brave in what she did and what she said and the information she gave," said Sheriff Nocco.
WATCH: Full news conference from the Pasco Sheriff's Office
Deputies said they arrived at the scene, cleared the house and secured the children. PSO said the victim's truck was outside and her phone was also found outside.
"The door was open, but at that point they realized that she's no longer there," said Sheriff Nocco.
Investigators said they learned Savetz left the area with the victim in a rental car before law enforcement arrived.
Officials later updated the case to a kidnapping.
Deputies later located the vehicle and found both Savetz and the victim dead from gunshot wounds in the 16800 block of Platinum Drive in Spring Hill.
Tampa Bay 28 has been able to identify the victim as Mandy Fackler from family friends, using divorce records and other public documents.
Officials said Savetz worked for the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office for the last 14 years, most recently with the Marine Unit.
A neighbor, who said he did not hear the gunshots, described the scene near where the car was found. He said he was sad over the outcome.
"That's a shame that, that these people had to die," the neighbor said.
Nocco said the mother died protecting her children.
"Those two children, they should be starting off this week getting ready for school. But what they're doing is starting off this week, getting ready for a sad life without their mother," Nocco said.
The incident comes just one week after the Pasco County Sheriff's Office responded to another domestic violence incident that turned deadly.
Lariana Forsythe, CEO of Community Action Stops Abuse, says the case is a sobering reminder of how dangerous it can be to leave an abusive relationship.
"Domestic violence is really about power and control, and when a perpetrator starts to lose control over the victim, that's when we see, escalated violence," Forsythe said.
Forsythe says domestic violence is often underreported, but she commended the mother for protecting her children.
"The fact that she did figure out how to best protect her children absolutely is an act of heroism," Forsythe said.
People who knew the victim described her as a ray of sunshine, a loving mom, and someone who will be deeply missed. The Pasco County Sheriff's Office has not publicly identified her.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Share Your Story with Annette
If you live in Wesley Chapel or the surrounding area, Annette Gutierrez is here for you. She’s focused on finding solutions and getting results for our neighbors, so send Annette tips on how she can help.
.
Saudi flight from Tampa, secret FBI probe reveal possible Saudi support network for 9/11 hijackers
Twenty years after the Sept. 11 attacks, more than 80,000 records compiled by the Tampa FBI Field Office remain classified. Newly declassified documents are pointing to a possible secret Saudi support network for the hijackers. Soon after the attacks, the FBI uncovered that 15 of the 19 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia.
