WASHINGTON — Carolyn Mattingly called police Tuesday to report slashed tires on a car at her home. Just more than an hour later police returned, finding a fire and her body.
Less than a mile away Andrew Racca, the man police believe killed her, was found dead in a crashed Mercedes, a gun inside.
Police say Mattingly, 57, was married to Racca’s boss, C. Richard, the Chief Operating Officer of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Racca, 42, was recently told that an alleged workplace theft would be reported to police.
The bodies, which weren’t discovered together, were found after emergency crews responded separately to the fire and crash.
Around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, police responded to Mattingly’s home on Great Elm Drive in Potomac for reports of vandalism and slashed tires. They spoke with Mattingly and left. About an hour later, firefighters were called to the house to respond to a small fire in the garage. They found her body.
Also around 2:30 p.m., police responded to a single-car crash at Piney Meetinghouse and River roads involving Racca. The Mercedes he drove crashed into a tree and a gun was found in the car.
The medical examiner has ruled Mattingly’s death a homicide caused by gunshot. Racca’s death was ruled a suicide by gun. Ballistic testing will be underway to determine if the same gun was used in both deaths.
Police say it’s unknown whether Racca committed suicide before or after his car crashed into the tree.
In a statement, Laurie Fink, National Director of Media Relations with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, expressed sadness and said the organization will cooperate full with the investigation. The organization’s greatest concern, according to the statement, is for the Mattingly family.
Police don’t believe Racca and Carolyn Mattingly had any previous relationship.
WTOP’s Lacey Mason contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter and WTOP on Facebook.
