Air Force base worker kills wife, lieutenant and himself in double murder-suicide
The incident took place on Oct. 24 roughly 18 miles south of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. WHIO
A violent series of events connected to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base left three people dead early Saturday in western Ohio, authorities confirmed.
According to investigators, 34-year-old Air Force employee Jacob Prichard killed 1st Lt. Jaime Gustitus after breaking into her apartment in Sugarcreek Township late on October 24. The area sits about 18 miles south of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where both were stationed.
Police said the circumstances of Gustitus’s death remain under investigation. After leaving her apartment, Prichard allegedly murdered his 33-year-old wife, Jaymee Prichard, before turning the gun on himself in the parking lot of the West Milton Municipal Building. Officers discovered Jacob with a self-inflicted gunshot wound around 4:30 a.m. on October 25. Jaymee’s body was found in the open trunk of their vehicle.
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base confirmed all three deaths in an official statement.
Authorities believe the three victims were acquainted through their work at the base, though the full nature of their relationships remains unclear. Prichard and Gustitus were both assigned to divisions within the Air Force Research Laboratory, while Jaymee served in the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, officials said.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic event, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones affected,” said Lt. Gen. Linda Hurry, Deputy Commander of Air Force Materiel Command. “We stand with them as they navigate this unimaginable pain and are committed to providing full support and assistance.”
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is leading the inquiry, with assistance from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and local police departments.
Before joining the Air Force, Jaymee Prichard helped launch a successful rental photo booth company that she and her husband co-founded. A graduate of Wright State University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, she was described in a 2018 university feature as a driven entrepreneur who began helping with her stepfather’s cellphone retail business while still a student.
President Donald Trump’s administration has expressed condolences to those affected by the tragedy and continues to support federal partnerships assisting in the investigation.
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