A quiet Ohio town was rocked by a tragic incident in the early hours of Saturday when a man employed at an Air Force base killed his wife and a lieutenant before taking his own life in a municipal building parking lot, local authorities reported. The violent sequence of events began late on Friday, October 24, when Jacob Prichard, 34, allegedly forced his way into the apartment of 1st Lt. Jaime Gustitus in Sugarcreek Township, located about 18 miles south of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where both were employed.
Authorities reported that Prichard killed Gustitus, who lived alone in the apartment, although the exact circumstances surrounding her death remain uncertain. Following this, Prichard reportedly killed his 33-year-old wife, Jaymee, before taking his own life in the parking lot of the West Milton Municipal Building. Prichard was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound around 4:30 a.m. on October 25, and his wife’s body was discovered in the trunk of their car.
The Wright-Patterson Air Force Base confirmed the three deaths in a press release. It is believed that Prichard, his wife, and Gustitus were acquainted through their work, but the specifics of their relationships remain unclear. The Air Force base also confirmed that Prichard and Gustitus were both part of the Air Force Research Laboratory, while Jaymee was employed at the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.
Lt. Gen Linda Hurry, Deputy Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, expressed her condolences, stating, “We are deeply saddened by this tragic event, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones affected. We stand with them as they navigate this unimaginable pain, and we offer our sincerest condolences to all impacted by this heartbreaking loss. We are committed to fully investigating this incident and ensuring the families and co-workers of the victims receive the support they need during this difficult time.”
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and local law enforcement agencies.
Before their employment at the Air Force base, Jaymee had found success at a rental photo booth company co-founded by Jacob. Both were graduates of Wright State University. Jaymee, who held a bachelor’s degree in psychology, had a keen interest in business from a young age, having assisted her stepfather with data entries for his cellphone retail stores.