7-Year-Old Girl, Mother Found Dead Inside Home In Alleged Murder-Suicide

A 7-year-old girl and her 46-year-old mother were found dead this week inside a Connecticut home in what has been ruled a murder-suicide, officials said.

Authorities first discovered the body of Tracy Do inside her Westport home Thursday afternoon while responding to a report of an unresponsive woman, the Westport Police Department said in a press release. While searching the residence, investigators found a second body, later identified as Do’s 7-year-old daughter.

The medical examiner determined during an autopsy that the young girl had died of drowning, and her death was ruled a homicide. The mother had cuts or stab wounds to her torso and extremities, and her death was ruled a suicide, WNBC reported.

"The Westport Police Detective Bureau along with the State Police Western District Major Crimes Unit continue to investigate the facts and circumstances related to these two deaths," police said in the press release, adding that no further information on the case will be released at this time.

Chief Foti Koskinas said, "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."

Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe also issued a statement on the case Friday.

"The community is dealing with an awful tragedy. Since this terrible event is still under investigation, I cannot comment on the details," Marpe said in the statement obtained by News12 reporter Marissa Alter. "My prayers and condolences are with the family. Police, first responders, public school personnel and students have been directly impacted by this devastating event."

The superintendent of Westport Schools, where the daughter had been a student, also sent a letter to the school community Thursday following the incident. Elementary and preschools would be closed the following day but will remain open to parents and students who need to access mental health services, WFSB reported, citing the superintendent's letter.

"Late this afternoon, we were informed of the untimely and tragic loss of one of our parents and her beloved daughter. There are no words that could console the sense of sorrow we feel by this unspeakable tragedy," Superintendent Thomas Scarice said. "We want to express our deepest condolences to all those impacted by this heartbreaking loss."

According to court records, there were ongoing legal cases between Do, whom WNBC identified as Tracy Malon in its report, and her former partner over the occupancy of the house where she and her daughter were found dead. The homeowner had filed a lawsuit recently to evict the woman, the report said.

There was also an ongoing custody battle between Do and the homeowner, WNBC reported, citing family court documents. She and the homeowner were never married but had two children together, and their romantic relationship ended in 2018, according to the news outlet.

It was unclear if their legal cases played a role in the murder-suicide.

Investigation on the mother and daughter's case is ongoing.