This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
A Florida sheriff’s deputy honored multiple times for his bravery, dedication and compassion killed a former girlfriend and then himself Monday after an argument over a television.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
The victim was identified by friends as Mandy Fackler, who leaves behind two children, 12 and 9, Fox Tampa reported.
Deputy Troy Savetz had been with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for 14 years and was a member of the marine unit.
He and the victim had an "on-again-off-again, tumultuous relationship," Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said in a news conference.
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Savetz, 47, was waiting outside Fackler's home when she and her children returned from a day at the beach at about 5:30 p.m. He brandished a gun and was angry about "wanting his TV set back," Gualtieri said.
When the victim tried to call 911, Savetz took her phone. That’s when she told her two children to go inside.
They did as they were told. And they never saw her again.
The children were "extremely brave," calling 911 and giving dispatchers everything needed to identify the suspect, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco told reporters.
When authorities arrived at the home, they saw the mother’s vehicle with the door wide open and they found her phone, Nocco said.
"At that point, they realize that she's no longer there" at the residence, he said.
Officers sprang into action using K-9 teams, drones, and aviation units, searching for the vehicle Savetz was driving when he carried the victim away, Nocco said.
About 90 minutes after the altercation began, authorities found the vehicle in nearby Spring Hill. Officers approached with a drone and saw two people inside.
When they reached the car on foot, they found Savetz and his victim dead.
"We're not sure when and at what point" he killed her and himself, Nocco said.
The children, now with their biological father, were unharmed in the incident.
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They "should be starting off this week getting ready for school," Nocco said. Instead, they’re "starting off this week getting ready for a sad life without their mother."
He praised the children for their bravery and obedience in such a critical moment.
"I know eventually there's going to be a point in your life where you're going to go back and listen to all the videos and read all the reports, " Nocco said.
"So please hear this directly from us: We listened to that 911 tape, and we know that your mother said to go inside to save your lives and to call 911. You did exactly what your mom asked you to do.
"Know this: Your mom is looking down from heaven, and she's so proud of you two … So know that you two did the right thing."
Nocco said officers were "amazed" by the children’s "calmness." The information they provided allowed for the fastest possible response.
"So we're so proud of you, and I know your mom is. But know [that] this entire community is praying for you."
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Before this, Savetz had earned accolades for his behavior while wearing the badge. In 2014, he was honored by the sheriff’s office for his "heroic action" in saving the life of a 24-year-old man, stopping him from jumping off a bridge in Pinellas County.
That earned him attention from the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team, who called him "Our Everyday MVP" in a June 2015 social media post. Wearing his green uniform, Savetz was honored by receiving the opportunity to throw out a ceremonial first pitch.
He was hailed a "hero" at local fundraisers and by radio stations.
In 2018, the sheriff’s office shared a social media post about how Savetz had adopted a pot-bellied pig he found while on duty. That year, he and Maple, as she became known, went on to be named ambassadors for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Tampa Bay.
But the "inexcusable" behavior of Savetz immediately ended his identity as a law enforcement officer, Gualtieri said.
"The moment this individual committed a crime, he was no longer a law enforcement officer. He was a criminal."
