Victoria Lea Melcher Stambaugh, a 41-year-old woman from Charles Town, West Virginia, was shot and killed on November 7, 2014, at her mother Theresa Melcher’s home after a period of escalating conflict with her husband Harold D. Stambaugh Jr. Victoria had moved to her mother’s house about four days earlier because of arguments with Harold. In the evening of November 7, Harold, reportedly intoxicated, was seen gathering Victoria’s belongings into trash bags and loading them into his truck before traveling to the residence where she was staying.

Investigators say Victoria was shot multiple times inside the living room; the medical examiner determined she sustained seven gunshot wounds caused by five bullets. After the killing, Harold returned home and shot himself in the face; he survived and was hospitalized. Police found the murder weapon at the scene and a trail of blood between the two homes. Prosecutors relied on his movements that night, the recovered weapon and a note found among his belongings in bringing charges.

Harold Stambaugh was indicted on first-degree murder, burglary and brandishing a firearm. At trial the defense emphasized his chronic alcoholism and memory impairment; the jury convicted him of first-degree murder and brandishing and acquitted him of burglary, then recommended mercy. Does anyone have information about Victoria’s last days or recollections of that neighborhood on November 7, 2014?