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Bethel Woman Had Protective Order Against Husband Before He Killed Her in Apparent Murder-Suicide

NBC Connecticut

A woman recently obtained a protective order against her husband before being killed in an apparent murder-suicide at the estranged couple's Bethel home, police said.

Officers were called to a home on Reservoir Street just before midnight on Tuesday after getting a report of a disturbance. Responding officers said the woman and her estranged husband lived in the second floor apartment of a two-family home.

When officers arrived to the house, they said they found two people, identified as Lester and Traci Jones, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, according to police.

The family living downstairs was asleep at the time of the incident, officers said.

Traci was pronounced dead at the scene. Lester was taken to Danbury Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Authorities say Lester and Traci were recently estranged because of reported domestic abuse. Investigators said Traci sought help by requesting a protective order on Jan. 17.

She first reported abuse on Jan. 20 by telling authorities that her estranged husband threatened her. At the time of the report, her husband was in New York staying with family. Police in New York located and arrested him for violating the protective order.

In the past week, he came back to Connecticut to stay with family in Danbury. On Jan. 31, Lester entered their Bethel home and shot Traci. She sustained gunshot wounds to the chest and head, investigators said.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Traci was killed by a gunshot wound to the head and Lester died by suicide. Traci's death was ruled a homicide.

Police said there is no threat to the community. The investigation remains active and ongoing.

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