Slain teacher's death rattles township

GIRARD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - Who killed DeeDee Foley?

That's the question on the minds of many others in the rural Branch County community the long-time resident and elementary teacher called home.

If police know, they aren't saying.

The 41 year-old was found shot to death in her Girard Township home, just north of Coldwater, Saturday by her husband.

"This is something that totally blew out the community. We're not used to something like this," said resident Tracy Conley. "This is a small, you don't expect this in a small town."

In the four corners they call Girard, just about everyone knows everybody.

Conley knew DeeDee Foley in high school. Years later, Conley's son went to Union Elementary, where Foley taught for much of her career.

"She was wonderful. She was a wonderful lady that, everybody loved her. Even from the kids who have been in her grade and moved on. "

The superintendent of Union City Schools says there isn't a big enough church in the area to hold the number of people expected to turn out for DeeDee Foley's funeral Friday. The funeral will be held in the high school gym.

Tuesday afternoon, state troopers combed the area near the Foley home. Monday, investigators confirmed the Foley was shot to death. That and evidence at the scene convinced them it was a homicide.

Damage at the home may be part of that evidence.

24 Hour News 8 learned the window on the home's back door had been broken out .

" Yeah. I'm locking doors," Conley said. "My yard lights are on and I'm even letting my dog stay out of the cage because she doesn't like strangers."

Are those fears justified?

Court records checked by 24 Hour News 8 showed neither DeeDee Foley nor her husband Thomas has run across any serious legal trouble. DeeDee had one traffic violation. Thomas had speeding tickets and other traffic violations.

Was this a random attack, or did DeeDee Foley know her killer?

Troopers at the Coldwater Post aren't commenting whether they believe this to be a random attack or if she knew her killer.

And residents aren't resting easy.

"Till they figure out who this person is, 100%, and we feel safe," Conley said.