FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Authorities say a 17-year-old has been charged with murdering his mother after a stabbing at their home on Daphne Circle. The Fayetteville Police Department responded to a report of a stabbing around 7 p.m. Tuesday. When officers arrived, they found 49-year-old Katharine Svaldi dead from stab wounds inside the residence.
A suspect was located at the scene and detained immediately. Police have since identified him as Isaac Tracy, 17, Svaldi’s son. He was charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bond.
Officials with the Fayetteville Police Department confirmed that, under North Carolina law, Tracy has been charged as an adult due to his age and the nature of the crime. As a result, his name is a matter of public record.
The department has not released additional details regarding a motive or the circumstances leading up to the stabbing, but investigators say they are continuing their work to determine the full sequence of events.
Neighbors expressed shock at the news, describing the family as quiet and private. Police emphasized that the public is not considered at risk in connection with the incident.
This tragic case marks another instance of a violent crime within a family home and has left the Fayetteville community shaken as authorities continue their investigation.
