On the evening of November 16, 2009, an Amtrak train collided with a garbage truck on its way to a Chicago garbage service facility. The garbage truck driver was killed, as was Stacy Wilson. Wilson was also the mother of an infant daughter and a college student. Wilson was an avid skier and a member of the National Ski Patrol. She had recently completed her studies at Eastern Kentucky University and was headed to work as a ski patrol supervisor at a ski resort in Vermont. Wilson was also a recent widow, after she lost her husband of 28 years, Scott, in a skiing accident in December 2008.
The Turning Point
On the morning of September 5, 2012, Stacy Wilson was on the phone with her mother. Her phone kept disconnecting, and the last thing she heard before the disconnection was her mom saying, “Stacy, are you okay? Text me if you need anything. I’ll be here until 6 to make sure you’re okay.” Stacy Wilson wasn’t able to talk to her parents that night — they were in the middle of a family vacation in Missouri — so she sent them a text message instead. The next morning, Stacy’s parents received a frantic call from her, saying that her phone had disconnected and she didn’t know where it was. This was a common occurrence for Wilson. Wilson — who had a degree in engineering and a passion for helping others — was a bit of a late bloomer. She left school about a year after her first day, after which she worked briefly at a local startup and then a telemarketing company. She was working from home, doing some home-based telemarketing, when she developed this phone problem. While Wilson’s parents always made it clear that she was a gifted individual, Stacy’s death was a further reminder to them that their daughter was also a very gifted individual who made some small, but fatal, mistakes.
Her tragic death: When did it happen?
Stacy Wilson was found by accident on the bed in her estranged husband’s house in Chesapeake, Va., on March 9, 2013. She had been staying there with her parents and his new wife. Wilson was 33 at the time, and her parents were dealing with their grief following their daughter’s sudden and unexpected death. Her death was ruled an accident.
The Final Hours
Wilson’s family gathered at their home in Chesapeake on the third day of her funeral, which was held at Long wood Cemetery in her hometown of Hampton. She was buried next to her parents in a plot designed for a young girl. Her mother, Mary Wilson, spoke first: “Stacy, you were such a wonderful child. You grew up to be so much more than you could have imagined. You were a blessing to your family and friends, and you will be in heaven. I love you so much and will miss you so much. Please stay in touch. I’ll be waiting for you. Mom and Dad will miss you, too.”
Stacy Wilson’s phone was found next to her body, and it was determined that she had been using it to make phone calls. Friends, family and co-workers gathered to say goodbye to Wilson, and the funeral procession left the cemetery after her death.
The Aftermath
Wilson left behind a husband and two children. Her parents, brother and sister-in-law also came to the funeral, and they were accompanied by her former classmates and work colleagues.
Wilson’s former coworkers and classmates remember her as a generous, caring, hard- working and inspiring person. She was also known for being stubborn. When her co-workers first met her, they were in awe of her determination to succeed.
Stacy Wilson’s Legacy
When Wilson died, the media attention surrounding her death was intense. Her parents were especially proud of their daughter and the work she was doing. Her parents were also very proud of the fact that her death went unreported for several months. A report revealed that Wilson’s death was due to a common phone problem and that her death could have been prevented.
After Wilson’s death, the FCC updated its rules to make it easier for people with phone problems to repair them. The new rules also allowed people to make a mobile phone call while on the phone. The rules affect all operators, including those in the ground-based mobile radio communication systems.
Recovering From a Tragic Loss
Stacy Wilson’s death was a tremendous loss to her family and friends, but it was also a source of immense strength for her mother. Mary Wilson channeled her grief and sadness in positive ways, taking her daughter out of her grief with a trip to the beach and helping her relax by doing some crafts. Wilson also began doing some household maintenance around the house, cleaning and doing some light exercise. These actions helped Wilson get her mind off of her loss and helped to provide some much-needed energy to help get through her daughter’s death.
A Loss to Her Whole Community
Stacy Wilson’s death affected everyone in the community — not just her family — in a big way. Her classmates, co-workers and friends at Hampton raved about how much they loved her and how much they missed her. One of Stacy’s former classmates described Wilson as “the life of the party.” She loved to have fun and would do anything for her friends. When Stacy wasn’t having fun, she was working on her engineering degree, helping people, helping her parents stay on top of their finances and helping her ex-wife find her footing as a single parent.
Murderer Shorn Samuel Made Demands
During the search for the person responsible for murdering Stacy Wilson, it was discovered that the killer had also hacked into Wilson’s phone. He had even changed the pass code multiple times. He requested that the individual on the opposite end get back to him, despite the fact that they realized they shouldn’t. The police were able to identify the killer, who was ultimately convicted of felony murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Bottom line
Stacy Wilson’s death was a huge loss for her family and friends, but it was also a source of immense strength for her mother. Mary Wilson channeled her grief and sadness in positive ways, taking her daughter out of her grief with a trip to the beach and helping her relax. She also began doing some household maintenance around the house, cleaning and doing some light exercise. These actions helped Wilson get her mind off of her loss and helped to provide some much-needed energy to help get through her Daughter’s death.