A former Hall County commission candidate shot his wife before turning the gun on himself, according to the medical examiner’s report.
Robert Troy Phillips, 45, and his wife of nine years, Heather Phillips, 42, were found shot to death in their home on Third Street last week. The couple lived in the Chicopee Village area of Gainesville.
“Troy Phillips first shot Heather Phillips, then shot himself,” the Hall County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday in a news release.
They both died from a single gunshot wound, the sheriff’s office said.
Heather Phillips’ brother, Brannon Shane Martin, said the family appreciates the thorough investigation by the sheriff’s office.
“We hope that this (report) will quiet the rumors and misinformation on social media, as they have taken a toll on our family,” Martin wrote in a statement. “We hope this information will allow us to begin the healing process. We also want people to know that domestic violence is still an issue in our society. However, the most important thing is to remember Heather for how she lived, not how she died.”
Troy Phillips was defeated by incumbent Jeff Stowe in a race for the District 4 seat on the Hall County Board of Commissioners in May. He was a 10-year combat veteran who served in the Persian Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to his campaign website.
The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information should contact the sheriff’s office.
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