A 17-year-old has been charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of his mother at their North Carolina home, where her body was partially located inside a recycling bin, according to police.
Isaac Tracy was arrested in connection with the killing of Katharine Svaldi, 49, at their Fayetteville residence the evening of Tuesday, February 10, according to a news release issued by the Fayetteville Police Department that day, and an update issued by the agency on Wednesday, February 11.
Tracy, who is being held in jail without bond, “has been charged as an adult due to his age and the nature of the offense,” police said.
He is being represented by a court-appointed public defender, whose name was not listed in records viewed by Luxury Handbag Shopping on Thursday, February 12.
On February 10, two 911 calls came in about the fatal stabbing, including a call made by Tracy, according to an affidavit obtained by Us.
While on the phone with a dispatcher, Tracy said that “he wanted to get himself arrested because he killed his mom,” the filing says.
Tracy also shared that his mother was “inside a trash bin located in the garage area of the residence,” and added that he had repeatedly stabbed her, according to the affidavit.
The other 911 call came from a person who identified themselves as Tracy’s grandparent, the affidavit says.
They told a dispatcher that “their grandson stated he killed his mother, and that she was currently dead inside the garage,” according to the filing.
When Fayetteville police officers responded to the home, they found Tracy and took him into custody, the affidavit says.
He had blood on himself as well as “self-inflicted injuries,” according to police.
Officers also found Svaldi’s body “partially in a recycling bin” in the garage, the affidavit says.
Inside the home’s kitchen, police located a note, potentially written by Tracy, in which a possible motive for the killing was revealed, according to the affidavit.
The filing did not include further details about the contents of the note, which was discovered on top of a kitchen table, according to police.
In response to an inquiry from Us about the note, Fayetteville Police Major Shawn Strepay said via email that at this time, “we are unable to elaborate on specific evidentiary details, including potential motives or the contents of any items recovered at the scene.”
“As this matter is now pending judicial review, we must limit the release of investigative findings to protect the integrity of the case and ensure fair court proceedings,” Strepay added. “While an arrest has been made and we are not seeking additional suspects, our detectives are actively continuing their investigative work to ensure a thorough and complete case file for prosecution.”
Tracy was a student at Jack Britt High School in Fayetteville, where he was on the school’s wrestling team, a Cumberland County schools spokesperson told WRAL-TV.
He is due in court for a disposition hearing on March 3, court records show.
Fayetteville is about a 65-mile drive southwest from Raleigh.
