A husband and wife in Wilmington, North Carolina are dead. Deputies say it was a murder-suicide. It happened just one day after the couple hit 40 years of marriage.

Deputies found Stephen Larnell Willetts, 65, and his wife, Tracey Parker Willetts, dead inside their home. It was early on Thursday, July 30. The couple had marked their 40th wedding anniversary the day before. That was Wednesday, July 29.

This case is a hard reminder. Danger inside a home can hide behind a happy day. Stories like this one hit families all over, not just in North Carolina. Domestic violence does not always look the way people think. It can show up after many years of marriage. It can happen in a home full of good memories.

A smartwatch helped deputies find the couple. The watch was on one of their wrists. It sensed a hard fall. No one answered the watch's alert. So the watch called 911 on its own. EMS crews rushed to the home. They could not get anyone to open the door. They called for help from the sheriff's office.

Deputies got to the home. They found the garage door open. They went inside. They found Stephen and Tracey dead. Both had gunshot wounds. The sheriff's office worked the scene for days. Detectives pieced together what happened.

"Based on the evidence gathered during the investigation, detectives believe this to be a murder-suicide in which the wife fatally shot her husband before taking her own life," the sheriff's office said.

Stephen was a retired Army veteran. He worked for years as an EMT. Neighbors say he walked his dog every day. He stayed active and fit. Both Stephen and Tracey loved to paddleboard. Friends knew them at Wrightsville Beach. The couple often paddled the water together there.

A neighbor named Wyatt Heartline talked about Stephen. "He was consistent and one of the friendliest people I've met around here," Heartline said. Neighbors say Stephen waved and said hello on his daily walks. People in the area say the couple seemed close and happy.

Family members say this was not the first loss for the Willetts family. The couple lost two sons within one year of each other. That was back in 2013 and 2014. A cousin named Fuller Royal spoke about that loss. "I can't begin to imagine how much that hurt and what they went through," Royal said.

Friends and neighbors are now dealing with a second tragedy tied to the same family. Many say they are still in shock. Some say the couple never fully got over losing both sons so close together. That kind of grief can stay with a family for many years.

The sheriff's office says this looks like an isolated event. That means there is no danger to the public now. Investigators have not said what led to the shooting. The case remains open.

Smartwatches like the one worn by the Willetts family can sense a hard fall or a sudden change in heart rate. When the wearer does not respond, the watch calls for help on its own. In this case, that feature is the reason deputies found the couple as fast as they did.

This case shows a hard truth. Domestic violence can strike at any age. It can happen at any stage of a marriage, even after 40 years. Groups that help domestic violence survivors say warning signs are not always easy to see. Friends and family may not notice, even in long marriages that look happy from the outside.

No new details have come out since the discovery. New Hanover County detectives say the case is still active. Anyone who knew the couple and has information should call the sheriff's office.

If you or someone you know is in danger at home, help is free. It is there day or night. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.