Elementary school teacher, ex-husband found dead in ‘apparent murder-suicide’ | News

An English as a 2nd Language teacher at Grace Miller Elementary University and her ex-spouse were being located shot to dying in a Bealeton townhouse the night of Jan. 23 in what regulation enforcement labeled an “apparent murder-suicide.” The few experienced just lately divorced, in accordance to court docket records.

Fauquier sheriff’s deputies responding to the capturing observed Bengu Beachley, 38, and John Beachley, 51, lifeless within a Hancock Road home in the Mintbrook subdivision. A further feminine sufferer was found very seriously wounded at the scene and airlifted to INOVA Fairfax Hospital, according to Lt. Steven Lewis of the FCSO, who described her situation as secure. That sufferer has not determined.

When deputies initially arrived at the household at 8:44 p.m., they came across the shooting’s sole survivor at the rear of the home, struggling from “multiple gunshot wounds,” in accordance to a lookup warrant affidavit. Deputies then approached the open garage and located Bengu Beachley, dead from evident gunshot wounds, within a gray Mazda sedan inside the garage. A deceased guy, afterwards recognized as John Beachley, was lying on the garage flooring. Deputies recognized several bullet casings on the flooring of the garage and a firearm lying “in the location of the deceased male,” the affidavit included.

The shooting came just six days following Bengu Beachley was granted a divorce from John Beachley on Jan. 18.

Bengu and John Beachley had married in August 2015 and lived jointly in a property on Reeves Court docket in Warrenton, but the pair separated at the close of March 2020, court filings display. On June 2, 2020, Bengu Beachley filed for divorce, stating in a submitting that her spouse experienced been “abusive and cruel” to her and had “verbally and mentally abused [her] numerous occasions although ingesting excessively.” The filing extra that John Beachley experienced “terminated the spouse-and-wife relationship” and had “attempted to remove [his wife] from the loved ones residence.”

In subsequent filings, John Beachley denied the allegations of spousal abuse and that he tried to drive her from their shared property.

Tara Helkowski, spokeswoman for the Fauquier County Public Faculties mentioned, “This reduction will have an impact on several pupils, staff and customers of our university local community. We will do all the things we can to assist your youngster and our staff members by this encounter.”

Tammy Lasher, a colleague of Beachley’s at Grace Miller Elementary, explained that her close friend “will be remembered as an advocate and voice for her learners and their families. She worked tricky to fulfill every student’s wants often with a light smile on her deal with. Ms. Beachley is survived by the several youngsters she impacted. Her adore and kindness to many others leaves a abundant legacy in the youthful lives she touched.”

Debbie Diaz-Arnold, the school’s principal, added that Beachley “filled a space with such heat and sunshine. Her pupils adored her. You realized Ms. Beachley beloved what she was doing just about every working day. She was impressive, inventive, intelligent and a correct educator. Bengu Beachley will be skipped, and her memory will be a person we will cherish for decades to come.”

“Bengu was a gorgeous particular person,” remembered tunes instructor Angela Felsted. “She cared deeply about her learners and labored intently with them to make confident they felt bundled and loved. She connected with households and employees in a honest and welcoming way, introducing generosity and warmth to every of her encounters. I will pass up her. All of us will skip her. She made the world we reside in a improved spot.”

A vigil in remembrance of Bengu Beachley is scheduled for 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 27 in the Mintbrook community of Bealeton.