Mike Boudet

The side door shows no signs of forced entry.

The office light is still on.

The hallway is quiet except for low radio traffic as officers secure the perimeter.

In the small office, the scene is clear.

The desk sits in the center of the room.

Behind it, dark blood stains the carpet in the large pool.

The paramedics mark the outline of the body with tape before moving her, keeping the spot where she fell.

The shape is unmistakable.

Stumbo looks around the room carefully.

Nothing is overturned.

Drawers are closed.

Papers are still stacked on the desk.

There are no signs of struggle or a search for money or valuables.

If this were a robbery, the room would show it.

If it were random violence, someone likely would have forced their way in.

Instead, the scene suggests someone was close.

They stood near the victim.

fired, and left without disturbing anything else.

Stempo steps back in the hallway and looks towards the sanctuary beyond the office.

For centuries, this church was a place of routine and ritual.