Community reacts as Fayetteville teen charged in mom’s stabbing death appears in court: ‘Devastated’

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) — A 17-year-old Cumberland County student charged with fatally stabbing his mother appeared before a judge for the first time Wednesday.

Isaac Gideon Tracy, a student at Jack Britt High School, is accused of killing his mother, 49-year-old Katharine Svaldi, at their home in the 1900 block of Daphne Circle in Fayetteville.

Police say officers responded to the residence just after 7 p.m. Tuesday and found Svaldi suffering from stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Court docs reveal disturbing details

Court records showed disturbing new details Thursday night in the case.

According to a police report, Tracy called 911 and said, “he wanted to get himself arrested — because he killed his mom.”

Officers arrived on the scene and found Svaldi’s body in a recycling bin in the garage.

Police also said they found a note on the kitchen table, possibly written by Tracy, detailing why he killed his mother.

Nearby residents shocked by the crime

Neighbors in the community said they were stunned by the violence.

“Can you imagine… to kill your mom. That’s very sad,” said nearby neighbor Diana Konitzer.

Konitzer said the incident was unlike anything she has experienced in decades living in the neighborhood.

“Very shocked. This is, I’ve been married to my husband for almost 40 years. I never heard like this in my neighborhood,” she said.

A close friend described Svaldi as kind and caring and said she was devastated when she learned of her death.

“When I finally found out that it was her, devastated, heartbroken, you know, nobody deserves to lose their life like that at anybody’s hands. And I just hurt for her and her family, and I hurt for her son,” said Kirsten, who spoke off camera.

Kirsten shared a fond memory of attending a themed prom event together.

“The one memory I have of her. We got to go to a Beauty and Beast prom. So we dressed up and danced and just had the best time,” she said.

Because of the severity of the crime, Tracy is being charged as an adult. He was appointed legal representation on Thursday and remains in custody without bond.

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Kirsten, who recalled Isaac as a thoughtful teen who often helped neighbors with their lawns, urged the community not to rush to judgment.

“I just want people to not judge. We don’t know where anyone or any family is going through, and to speculate on what either one of them could have been, is not needed,” she said.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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