Police Investigate Murder Suicide in Potomac

UPDATED Oct. 4 – Police have released more information in the death of Potomac resident Carolyn Mattingly. According to police, the medical examiner has ruled that Mattingly’s death is a homicide and her cause of death is a gunshot wound. Police have also released more information about the death of Andrew Racca. According to the medical examiner, Racca’s death is a suicide and the cause of his death is a gunshot wound.

Police said ballistic testing to determine if the same gun was used in the homicide and suicide has not been completed at this time.

It is unknown, police said, whether Racca committed suicide before or after his vehicle collided with the tree.

ORIGINAL POST

Montgomery County police are investigating two deaths that occurred in Potomac on Sept. 30 as a murder-suicide.

Here’s a police account of what happened on Sept. 30:

“At approximately 1:13 p.m., police received a call for a vandalism that occurred at a residence in the 12000 block of Great Elm Drive. Officers responded to the residence and observed slashed tires on the homeowner’s vehicle. Officers spoke with the complainant, Carolyn Mattingly, age 57, who explained that she had discovered this vandalism. Mattingly also explained that her husband, identified as C. Richard Mattingly, was at work. Officers documented the vandalism to the vehicle and then left the scene.

“At approximately 2:33 p.m., police received a call for a single-car colliding with a tree on Piney Meetinghouse Road at River Road. The male driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. A handgun was located in his vehicle. The driver is being identified as Andrew Racca, age 42, of Chevy Chase.

“At approximately 2:34 p.m., a call was received for a residential fire on Great Elm Drive; it was the same residence where officers had responded to for a vandalism call approximately an hour earlier. Responding Fire and Rescue personnel and 1st District officers found a small fire in the garage of the residence. A deceased individual was discovered inside the garage. Investigators are presuming that the victim is Carolyn Mattingly. The cause of her death and her confirmed identity is still under investigation and will be determined by the Medical Examiner’s Office.”

According to police, Andrew Racca and C. Richard Mattingly worked together at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Bethesda where Richard Mattingly holds a management role at that foundation. Detectives believe that issues arose between Richard Mattingly and Racca at work regarding allegations that Racca was involved in workplace theft. On Monday, police said that management had informed Racca that the foundation would have to report the possible theft to police. On Tuesday, Racca did not come to work. Investigators believe that Racca, by means still under investigation, killed (who police presume to be) Carolyn Mattingly. Investigators said they believe that Racca then committed suicide as he was located deceased at the scene of the collision.

The cause of Racca’s death, police said, is still under investigation and will be determined by the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Police said there is no known relationship between the suspect, Andrew Racca, and the victim, Carolyn Mattingly.

This case remains under investigation. Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call the Major Crimes Division at 240.773.5070.

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