A supervisor at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) who was accused of theft is now suspected of murdering the wife of the executive who confronted him regarding the missing equipment and then killing himself.
Andrew Racca, 42, employed by the Bethesda-based CFF for a decade, was accused of theft of workplace equipment on Monday by foundation management. According to Montgomery County Police Department, the organization’s chief operating officer, C. Richard Mattingly told Racca he would have to report the theft to the police. Racca met with Mattingly on Monday and did not go to work on Tuesday.
Mattingly’s wife, Carolyn, called police on Tuesday afternoon after her car tires had been slashed, stating that her husband was at work at the time, according to police. First responders rushed back to the Mattingly residence an hour later in response to a fire call and discovered a body, which they believed to be that of Carolyn Mattingly, 57.
At about the same time, police responded to a call about a car colliding with a tree. Racca’s body was found inside, along with a handgun. Montgomery County police are investigating the incidents as a murder-suicide.
Police Department Spokesman Capt. Paul Starks said the causes of death for both Mattingly and Racca are still being investigated, and there is no new information available. There is no relationship between Racca and Carolyn Mattingly, according to the department.
Mattingly was a real estate agent and a community activist. Racca was the CFF’s director of network operations, a position he had held since March, according to his LinkedIn profile. He had been with the organization nearly 10 years.
The CFF did not immediately respond to a request for comment. According to the organization’s 2012 Form 990 (the most recent available), it had total revenue of $260 million, up more than $100 million from the year before thanks to a large jump in contributions and grants and a reduction of expenses. The foundation’s chief expenditures revolved around medical programs, medication assistance and education for those suffering from cystic fibrosis.
