Deaths Of Westport Mother, Daughter Ruled Homicide, Suicide: PD

WESTPORT, CT — The daughter and mother found dead Thursday at their Westport home died by homicide and suicide, according to findings by the state Medical Examiner's Office, Westport police announced Friday.

The bodies of Tracy Do, 46, and her daughter, Layla Malon, 7, were discovered Thursday afternoon at the Lyndale Park home.

"The Medical Examiner determined that the seven-year-old had drowned and ruled her death a homicide," said Westport Police Lt. David Wolf in a statement. "The Medical Examiner ruled Ms. Do’s death a suicide. The Westport Police Detective Bureau along with the State Police Western District Major Crimes Unit continue to investigate the facts and circumstances related to these two deaths."

Officers, emergency medical responders and firefighters had been called to the home about 4 p.m. on a report of an unresponsive person inside, who turned out to be Do. After a brief search inside the home, her daughter also was found dead, authorities said.

Westport Police Chief Foti Koskinas said "this is a horrible tragedy, and the police department is keeping the family as well as the community that was so deeply affected by this in our thoughts and prayers."

Earlier on Friday, The Hour reported that the case is being investigated as a possible double homicide.

Though details initially were not released during the preliminary stages of the investigation, police were quick to say that the public was not in danger as a result of the discovery.

"This appears to be an isolated incident, and we do not believe that there is any active threat to the community," Wolf said.

Do and Layla's father, Eric J. Malon, were not married but shared another child in addition to Layla. That daugher, a 13-year-old, was not harmed.

According to court documents, Do and Malon had been in a romantic relationship from 2004 to 2020, but the relationship ended and Do was in the midst of suing Malon for breach of an implied contract.

Do was claiming that Malon, owner of Malon Construction, LLC, had promised to buy her a home in Westport and support her financially if the relationship ended. The lawsuit was initially filed in October of last year and was amended in May.

Lyndale Park is off Weston Road near Exit 42 of the Merritt Parkway, and home is on the corner of Lyndale and Weston Road. Police had the driveway of the home blocked off on Friday while detectives investigated. Members of the State Police Major Crimes Unit also assisted in the investigation.

News 12 Connecticut had reported that Do and her daughter were part of Westport Public Schools, and Schools Superintendent Thomas Scarice announced that Coleytown Elementary School and Stepping Stones Preschool would be closed for classes Friday.

The two schools reportedly were open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday for mental health counseling for students and parents.

Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe said in a statement Friday that he offers prayers and condolences to the family.

"The community is dealing with an awful tragedy," Marpe said. "Since this terrible event is still under investigation, I cannot comment on the details. My prayers and condolences are with the family.

"Police, First Responders, public school personnel and students have been directly impacted by this devastating event. The entire community shares in their grief and sadness. Westport is a caring community and I know we will come together to support those who need to begin the healing process."

On Friday, Scarice emailed parents that Coleytown Elementary and Stepping Stones would again be closed for school activities on Monday. Below is a copy of his message obtained by Patch:

Dear Westport Families,

As our community mourns the tragic loss of one of our beloved students and her mother, I want to provide assurance that the school district is actively working to support those closest to this unspeakable loss. A plan for mental health and grief counselors is being developed for those most impacted.

In order to appropriately end the school year, while simultaneously addressing the profound grief in the Coleytown Elementary School community, Monday, June 21 will not be a student day. Coleytown Elementary School and Stepping Stones Preschool students will not report to school Monday, June 21 as a scheduled school day.

However, parents can expect to be provided information by CES Principal, Janna Sirowich, and SSP Director, Lynda Codeghini, on an opportunity for students to visit their classrooms and teachers on Monday, June 21 for one last time, and to collect their belongings as they depart for summer.

Details of this opportunity will be shared later today by building administration, yet I can share that there will be a defined window of time for visits. I want to assure parents that there will be no discussion of the recent tragedy while students visit their teachers and collect their belongings. We will have staff staged across the entire school to help facilitate this opportunity for your child. This will be a drop off event and should take no longer than approximately 30 minutes. Again, details will be forthcoming from building administration.

Finally, parents will be provided additional resources on how to speak with your child, and whether or not it is age-appropriate to do so. Members of our team are ready to support our families, faculty and staff.

I want to thank the school community for the respect given to our faculty, staff and all first responders as we heal and support each other, and move to support all of those most impacted by this tragedy.

Respectfully,
Thomas Scarice
Superintendent of Schools