Police: Chevy Chase Man Killed Boss' Wife Then Himself

Authorities believe a Chevy Chase man accused of theft at his Bethesda workplace killed his supervisor’s wife and then killed himself by driving into a tree.

Montgomery County Police say the deaths Tuesday in Potomac of Carolyn Mattingly and Andrew Racca were a murder-suicide. There is no known relationship between the suspect, Racca, and the victim, Carolyn Mattingly.

Police were called to the Mattingly house in the 12000 block of Great Elm Drive in Potomac about 1:13 p.m. Tuesday for a report of vandalism. Officers spoke to Carolyn Mattingly, 57, who said she had found the tires slashed on a vehicle. Her husband, C. Richard Mattingly, was at work.

Officers documented the vandalism and then left.

Roughly an hour later, at 2:33 p.m., police received a call that a car had collided with a tree on Piney Meetinghouse Road at River Road. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle -- Racca, 42, of Chevy Chase -- was pronounced dead at the scene. A handgun was found inside his vehicle.

At the same time, firefighters and police were called to the Mattingly house again, this time for a small garage fire. Inside the garage, responders found what they believe to be the body of Carolyn Mattingly.

Investigators say Racca and Richard Mattingly worked together at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Bethesda, where Mattingly is a manager. Detectives believe that issues arose between Richard Mattingly and Racca following allegations that Racca was involved in workplace theft.

On Monday, managers told Racca they would have to report the possible theft to police. On Tuesday, Racca did not come to work. Investigators believe that Racca killed Carolyn Mattingly, then committed suicide by crashing his car.

The cause of both Carolyn Mattingly and Racca’s death are under investigation and will be determined by the Medical Examiner’s Office. That office will also confirm Mattingly as the victim in the homicide.

This case remains under investigation. Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call 240-773-5070. Callers can remain anonymous.