Pinellas sheriff’s deputy kills ex-girlfriend, then himself, in Pasco County

Deputy Troy Savetz kidnapped and murdered Mandy Fackler, 39, after an argument late Monday, authorities said. Authorities say Fackler's ex-boyfriend, Pinellas County sheriff's Deputy Troy Savetz, kidnapped Sackler in Hudson on Monday and then fatally shot her and himself.

By the time spring arrived earlier this year, Mandy Fackler was ready to give her relationship with Pinellas County sheriff’s Deputy Troy Savetz another chance.

In a public Facebook post on March 24, Fackler shared a couple of photos of herself and Savetz smiling as they held identical mugs that resembled revolvers and bore the American flag.

“We hadn’t talked in a while, but we both ended up getting each other the same mug — like one of those ‘had to — it’s so you’ kind of things,” the post said.

“And it hit me … Instead of growing through pain and moving on from each other, maybe we’re meant to grow with each other this time,” the post continued. “Not battling one another—but standing side by side through it.”

”My babies wake up telling me how happy they are," the post said. “Was well worth fighting my own dragon to figure this out and give them the harmony of a family unit I’d always wanted to be able to.”

But the relationship soured again, and Fackler and Savetz were no longer together when, authorities say, Savetz kidnapped Fackler in front of her two daughters at their Hudson home on Monday and drove her to Spring Hill. At some point, Pasco deputies said, Savetz shot Fackler and then himself.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office declined to identify Fackler, citing Marsy’s Law. But by Tuesday morning, several dozen people who knew the 39-year-old Hudson real estate agent did, describing her on social media as a caring, attentive mother who had been stolen from her children and other loved ones by an angry ex.

During a late-night news conference Monday, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco recounted the events that led to the violence.

Fackler took her two children to the beach Monday. They returned about 5:30 p.m. to their home on Phyllis Lane in Hudson.

As they pulled up to their house, they saw Savetz, whom Nocco said was Fackler’s ex-boyfriend. They began to argue over some of his belongings, the sheriff said. Savetz wanted his TV back.

Fackler tried to call 911, but Savetz took the phone, Nocco said. She then told her children to go in the house and call 911.

The children did as they were told. One of them spoke with a dispatcher. The girl identified Savetz as the suspect and told the dispatcher he was a Pinellas deputy, Nocco said.

“The child was absolutely, extremely brave in what she did and what she said,” Nocco said.

Pasco deputies arrived shortly thereafter. They did not know where Savetz and Fackler were, but they saw her truck outside. The truck’s door was open, and her phone was nearby. The deputies secured the house and the children. Deputies learned that Savetz was driving a rental car.

Word went out to surrounding law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for the car. At about 7 p.m., a ping to another cellphone led another deputy to a home on Platinum Drive in Spring Hill, roughly 6 miles from where the first incident occurred. There, they found the rental car.

The sheriff’s office used drones to look at the car. Inside, they saw Fackler and Savetz dead.

Investigators learned that someone else saw Savetz driving down a street sometime after the 911 call. The other person, apparently unaware of the situation, exchanged a thumbs up with Savetz, Nocco said.

“It was shortly after that the suspect took his own life,” Nocco said. “We’re not sure when at what point the suspect had killed the victim.”

The children were placed in the care of their biological father, Nocco said. He praised the children for their calmness and the information they provided to the dispatcher.

At the news conference, Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said Savetz, 47, had worked for his office for 14 years. He was assigned to the sheriff’s marine unit and previously worked for the St. Louis Police Department.

“Our heart goes out to her family, to those kids,” Gualtieri said. “There’s nothing we can say other than it’s awful. We feel for them. Everybody will be here as a community to do whatever they can for them. But we can’t replace their mom.”

"Amanda 'Mandy' Fackler, a 39-year-old Florida realtor and mother of two, died Monday, August 10, 2026, in an apparent murder-suicide involving her former boyfriend, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office deputy Troy Savetz. Authorities said the incident began with a domestic dispute outside Fackler’s home in Hudson, Florida, before investigators later found both Fackler and Savetz dead inside a rental vehicle.

According to Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco and Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, the investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to establish the exact timeline and circumstances surrounding Fackler’s death.

Mandy Fackler was a Florida realtor who worked in the real estate industry and was associated with Century 21 Beggins. Her professional profile described her as a licensed Realtor serving clients throughout Florida.

Fackler’s background also included work in real estate project management, transaction coordination and brokerage support. She described herself as a mother and a professional dedicated to helping people through some of the largest purchases of their lives.

Friends remembered Fackler as a strong, talented and inspirational woman who devoted herself to her children and career.

Her death has prompted an outpouring of grief from people who knew her personally and professionally.

According to investigators, the incident began at approximately 5:30 p.m. Monday after Fackler returned to her Hudson home with her two children, ages 12 and 9, following a day at the beach.

Authorities said Fackler encountered her former boyfriend, 47-year-old Troy Savetz, in the yard.

Savetz was a 14-year veteran of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and was assigned to the agency’s Marine Unit. Before joining the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, he had reportedly worked in law enforcement with the St. Louis Police Department.

Investigators said Fackler and Savetz began arguing about property, including a television that Savetz reportedly wanted returned.

During the confrontation, Fackler attempted to call 911. Authorities said Savetz allegedly took the phone from her, preventing her from completing the call.

Fackler then instructed her children to go inside the home and call 911.

The children followed their mother’s instructions and remained on the phone with emergency dispatchers, providing information about what was happening and identifying Savetz as a Pinellas County deputy.

Authorities said Fackler encountered her former boyfriend, 47-year-old Troy Savetz, in the yard.

Investigators said Fackler and Savetz began arguing about property, including a television that Savetz reportedly wanted returned.

During the confrontation, Fackler attempted to call 911. Authorities said Savetz allegedly took the phone from her, preventing her from completing the call.

Fackler then instructed her children to go inside the home and call 911.

Investigators said they believe Savetz shot and killed Fackler before taking his own life.

Authorities were still working to determine precisely when and where Fackler was killed.

The circumstances have been described by officials as an apparent murder-suicide arising from an on-again, off-again and reportedly tumultuous relationship.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri emphasized that Savetz’s position as a law enforcement officer did not excuse or diminish the seriousness of the alleged crime.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco similarly said that once Savetz committed the alleged crime, he was no longer acting in his capacity as a law enforcement officer.

The investigation remains active, and authorities are expected to provide additional information as detectives establish a complete timeline............................................................................................"

(more at link)

Mandy Fackler Obit.

Mandy Fackler:

47-year-old Deputy Troy Savetz:

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