May 29, 2024 - Goodnight Chris
Let’s go back to the night Chris left us, Wednesday, May 29, 2024. at around 9:15pm, I had just gotten home from a board meeting and was settling in. It was past my bedtime at this point but I was oddly wide awake.
Around 9:20pm I got a text from my sister, December, that she was concerned because she just received some cryptic texts from our brother, Chris. And by “cryptic” I mean telling her if anything happens to him her son gets his (favorite) dog and sent her a picture of the beach and said “goodnight”. Even for him these were off.
As December and I were discussing our options I get a text from our niece letting me know that Chris was sending her weird texts and she was scared. (He sent the same sort of cryptic texts as he had to December) She hadn’t heard from Chris or her mom since she got home from school and her mom is not answering her calls or texts. I assured her December and I were working on finding out where they were and I would be over to pick her up shortly so pack an overnight bag.
As soon as I got off the phone with my niece I called my sister in law, she actually answered. She had always thought of me as the enemy so this was quite suprising. Also, by the texts that Chris had sent we had assumed they had driven to the beach and the only beach we could think that had any kind of significance to them was Nags Head in the Outer Banks. They had gotten engaged there so we thought they may have gone back since they were having troubles and possibly wanted to go back to where it started? I don’t know, it made sense to us that night.
Anyway I put on my super sweet face and asked her where Chris was. The first answer I got was “at work” and I replied, no honey, you know he is not at work, where is Christopher? “He’s in Wisconsin” no Nikki, you know he’s not in Wisconsin either, is he with you? “Yes”, ok great. Can you please let me know where you are so I can come get you guys, or I can call an uber? “Yes” ok, where are you? “………” Nikki? “Yes” where are you, I would like to help you both and I am having a hard time figuring out where you are, can you please help me and let you know where you are? “Yes…….” great, where? “…….”. This nonsense went on for 10 minutes or so and then I heard Chris. He was crying, my heart broke. My husband was in the room with me and we were both pleading with him to just let us know where he was so we can help him. Kevin was telling him it was alright. Chris stopped crying at one point and said “You should come join us, Nikki wants you to be here” to which I said I would love to, just let me know where you are. Nikki hung up on me. The last thing I every heard my brother do was cry. Right after I got off the phone with them I requested both of their locations with no response.
During my entire 21 minute conversation I was sharing the play by play with my sister. At this point we knew it was serious, how serious we did not know, but serious. December decided to FaceTime our sister in law and she picked up. December was pretty much FaceTiming her the rest of the night. Since we thought they were in or around Nags Head, I called the police there and was put in contact with an amazing deputy. I wish I could remember her name because she was phenomenal.
I had few details to give and I am sure sounded like a crazy soccer mom. “Ummm hi, so my brother sent some sad texts to my sister and his daugher and we are concerned that he may be trying to take his life. He is in the truck with his wife and two German Shepherds but we have no idea where, just at a beach somewhere and it has to be within 2-3 hours at most from Raleigh”. If I were a deputy I know my reaction would not have been nearly as wonderful as hers. “Alright Shannan, if you are concerned enough to call then I am concerned enough to do everything I can to find them. You said they have their phones on them? Let me get their numbers and what cell company they have so I can track their phones, I am going to send beach patrol out now to start searching all the beaches and access points and be on the lookout for two adults and 2 adult GSDs. Can you text me a picture of their truck?” She then got all of their personal information and promise me she would call me back with updates as she got them.
December was still on the phone with our sister in law and was getting just as far as I did. Except December is way better at being a stalker than I am, she took screenshots of their call and looked on google search to find building that matched the ones around their truck. She stayed calm and asked open ended questions to keep our SIL engaged and kept her cool even when she got nothing in return. Since it was FaceTime she could see exactly what our sister in law was doing. She was not drinking, only vaping, and sitting calmly in the truck with the two poor dogs panting heavy behind her. December was giving me the play by play during these calls of course.
By this time it was a little after 11pm and I was heading over to pick up my niece. It is about a 10 minute drive and halfway there I got a call from the deputy and she said they were able to track their phones, they are in Carolina Beach, did I know any connection? I did not. She let me know she is going to call them as soon as she gets off with me and let them know this is a high priority to find them and beach patrol should be dispatched immediately. She was going to give my information to the deputies there so they can reach out when they have more information and she got all of my information for her police report.
I got to the house to pick up my niece and was taken aback by the 13 animals (well, we only knew about 9 that night) that were left in the home with my 15 year old niece. Yes, she is 15 but should never been left in those kind of conditions. More about that in another post. Anyway, we made sure the animals we knew about had fresh food and water and headed back to my house.
By the time we got back it was almost midnight, I sent my niece to bed as she was exhausted. My sister had been hung up on after she had seen what she thought might be a fire truck and our sister in law freaked out. So December and I were hopeful they had been found and I let her know I would keep her posted. I also told my husband he should go lay down, I was fine but needed to stay up.
I was in the living room with my dog when I head the tap on our front door. The outside lights weren’t on so I could not see them but I knew. There were two Wendell police officers standing at my door and three police vehicles at my house. I don’t remember his name but he asked me if I wanted to sit down. I said, no, I’m fine. He asked if Chris LaCourciere was my brother (well, he didn’t say LaCourciere, but I knew what he meant). I said yes and before he could even tell me I about passed out. Thankfully, the other police officer had positioned himself to be able to catch me and help me over to the chair. The officer told me that Christopher was deceased, he was found in Carolina Beach. My husband walked out at this time and I don’t remember what else the officer said but he gave the name and number of the patrol officer to Kevin and asked if I wanted them to tell my niece. I said I will do it in the morning and I thanked them for being so kind.
I went in the house and called my sister, she was asleep so no answer yet. I texted my mom to let me know when she was up. I them called the patrol officer and he let me know that Chris was found on the beach and his wife was taken to the hospital. Even though it was clear my brother took his own life the death is still under investigation so he would not be able to give me any more details at this time. He let me know a detective would be calling me in the morning to get and give me additional information.
Then I had to call my mom. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life. As soon as I stopped crying from that I had to call my sister and even though we both knew it was a possibility it was still the second hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life.
Make sure to read 5/30/24 for more details including about his wife….
