A mother and her seven-year-old daughter have been found dead in an apparent murder-suicide at their the home in a wealthy Connecticut neighborhood, medical examiners said.
Tracy Do, 46, died by suicide with ‘sharp-force injuries of torso and extremities’, while her seven-year-old daughter Layla Malon died by drowning at their $1.8million home in Westpoint, according to police.
Officers from the Westport Police Department responded to a call about an unresponsive female at a Lyndale Park home on Thursday afternoon and discovered both the mother and daughter dead.
Initially, police believed that the case could have been a double homicide, but later said they believed it was a murder-suicide.
Meanwhile, court records revealed that the mom was involved in a bitter property battle with her ex Eric John Malon over ownership of the expensive home, the New York Post reports.
The former couple, who never married, had been due before a remote court hearing on Friday morning.
They broke up back in 2018 and shared two children together, including 13-year-old Alexis, who was not hurt in the incident.
Police responded to a call of an unresponsive female at a Westport home (pictured) on Thursday afternoon when they discovered the body of a woman and pronounced her dead
When officers continued to search the home they also found the body of her seven year-old daughter as well
DailyMail.com has reached out to a member of the Westport Police Department for more information.
Westport police Chief Foti Koskinas released a statement Friday, saying, ‘This is a horrible tragedy, and the police department is keeping the family as well as the community that was so deeply affected by this in our thoughts and prayers.’
Lt. David Wolf from the Westport Police Department told FOX 61 that the deaths were an isolated incident and that investigators believe there is currently no active threat to the community.
The mother and daughter lived in a 4,457 square-foot home on a private road.
The three-story mansion, which last sold for $515,000 in July of 2010, according to public records, has the current market value is $1,768,000, CT Post reported.
Court records show that the mansion was part of a bitter battle between Do and her ex-partner and father of the two children who lived there.
In October, Do sued for custody of the two children, saying that she worked for her partner’s company for years without being properly compensated.
She also claimed her ex-partner promised a Westport home for Do and her children when the relationship ended.
Later, her partner would twice try to have Do evicted from the Westport home. The first attempt came in April, with Malon claiming she didn’t pay $10,000 a month in rent.
Do had received an extension to July 16 just a week ago to respond to the second eviction attempt.
Westport is one of the five richest towns in one of America’s five richest counties, according to the New York Times.
Court records show that the mansion may have been part of a bitter battle between Do and her ex-partner and father of the two children who lived there
Lt. Wolf told Fox 61 that the incident was a rare occurrence in the upper-class neighborhood.
‘Fortunately things like that do not happen in Westport,’ he said. ‘It’s a tragedy, our hearts go out to the family and it is devastating for the community and the family, of course.’
A neighbor told the CT Post that the family was known for their impressive Christmas decorations.
‘They looked to be a very happy family,’ Mark Kratter said. ‘They had a very well manicured home with extensive Christmas decorations that populated the entire lawn on a 2-acre lot.’
Police said they are still processing the scene as of Friday.
Lt. David Wolf from the Westport Police Department (pictured) said the deaths were an isolated incident and that investigators believe there is currently no active threat to the community
Police have not yet confirm how many people lived inside the home and said as of Friday they are still processing the scene
A red van was seen being towed away from the property, but police would not confirmed who it belonged to.
In an email to parents, Westport Schools Superintendent Thomas Scarice confirmed the mother and daughter were part of the Westport Public Schools system.
‘Late this afternoon, we were informed of the untimely and tragic loss of one of our parents and her beloved daughter,’ Scarice wrote in an email to parents Thursday night.
Classes were cancelled at Coleytown Elementary School and Stepping Stones Preschool on Friday but mental health services were offered for parents and students.
‘There are no words that could console the sense of sorrow we feel by this unspeakable tragedy. We want to express our deepest condolences to all those impacted by this heartbreaking loss,’ the Superintendent said in his email.
Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe also expressed his condolences over the tragedy.
‘Police, first responders, public school personnel and students have been directly impacted by this devastating event,’ Marpe stated.
‘The entire community shares in their grief and sadness. Westport is a caring community and I know we will come together to support those who need to begin the healing process.’
Several flower bouquets were left outside of the gate to the private street on a bench and one woman could be seen wiping tears away.
‘It’s just a big tragedy for this town,’ Emily Greenberg told the Courant after dropping off flowers. ‘We don’t have this here.’
