Dorothy Philbrook, 65, was killed outside her Sea Street home in Everett, Massachusetts, on the evening of August 17, 2007. Neighbors knew her as Auntie and remembered her as a kindly woman fond of children. Around 8:22 p.m. witnesses heard three shots and a man’s voice yelling; Dorothy was found on a neighbor’s porch with multiple gunshot wounds to her head, back, and neck and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Reports describe a long, stormy relationship between Dorothy and her 70-year-old ex-husband, George Philbrook, who had been living with her for about 25 years. In the days before the killing he complained about missing money, threatened her, and was arrested two days earlier for an assault tied to those disputes. On the night of the shooting Dorothy had been on the phone with her son, threatening to call police; an argument with George followed, and he left the scene. He was taken into custody less than an hour later in Malden, resisting arrest and found with a loaded semi-automatic, an extra clip and more than 50 rounds.

George Philbrook was charged with Dorothy’s murder. Questions remain for neighbors and anyone with information about the couple’s interactions or events that night.