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Westchester Educator, Wife Die In Apparent Murder-Suicide

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- James Gaddy, a prominent New Rochelle educator for several decades, was found dead in his North Carolina home, along with his wife in a reported murder-suicide.

New Rochelle teaching legend James Gaddy was found dead in his North Carolina home, along with his wife, in what is an apparent murder-suicide.

New Rochelle teaching legend James Gaddy was found dead in his North Carolina home, along with his wife, in what is an apparent murder-suicide.

Photo Credit: File photo

James Gaddy was found by family members with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his home on Friday, Jan. 8. He was pronounced dead on the scene. According to Pinehurst Police, he had shot and killed his wife up to three days earlier.

Following a case investigation, police determined the incident to be a murder-suicide, with Gaddy as the sole suspect. There was no forced entry into the home and police stressed that there is no threat to the public’s safety.

According to a statement by Pinehurst Police, Josie Gaddy was shot four times in the back of the head, reportedly between 48 and 72 hours before he turned the gun on himself, infecting one gunshot wound to his chest.

A beloved figure in New Rochelle, he was the first African-American to serve as principal in the district. He spent 16 years as principal at the high school before taking over as superintendent in 1985, when he was named one of the top 100 educators in North America by the National School Boards Association.

Since retiring from New Rochelle, Gaddy earned a series of national commissions, and spent more than three decades on the Monroe College Board of Trustees. In 2014, Monroe dedicated its latest dorm building in he and his family’s name.

Monroe College officials declined comment on Wednesday out of respect for the Gaddy family. 

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