A tragic case of domestic violence unfolded on Long Island Thursday morning when a husband fatally shot his longtime wife before taking his own life in an apparent murder-suicide, according to police.
Authorities discovered 73-year-old tugboat operator William Clifford in the driveway of his Islip home around 6:30 a.m., with a fatal gunshot wound to the head and a firearm at his feet. Moments earlier, a passing garbage truck driver, trained in CPR, checked for signs of life but determined he was beyond help before calling 911, Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad Detective Lt. Kevin Beyrer reported.
Inside the couple’s four-bedroom home at Parsons Landing and St. Marks Lane, officers found his wife, 68-year-old Eileen Clifford, deceased in a pool of blood.
Beyrer noted that the couple had been married for many years, and neighbors described them as kind and well-liked. There were no prior reports of domestic disturbances at their residence. The firearm was registered to William.
William worked as a tugboat operator in Manhattan, while Eileen was a former American Airlines flight attendant and president of the Kiwi Club of Long Island, an organization for current and former flight attendants.
Eileen was widely recognized for her volunteer work, receiving numerous accolades, including a presidential volunteer service award from former President George W. Bush and a recognition letter from Hillary Clinton in 2007, according to the Kiwi Club website.
In a personal biography, she expressed deep admiration for her husband, describing him as “wonderful” and crediting him with helping her live an active and fulfilling life.
“After graduating from college, American Airlines hired and transferred me to New York, where I have lived since I left home. My appetite to learn, grow, and be involved is continuous,” she wrote. “Today, volunteering with numerous groups and living an engaging life with my dear, wonderful husband Bill keeps me fulfilled, busy, and alive!”
The shocking crime left neighbors stunned as law enforcement swarmed the typically quiet, tree-lined neighborhood. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident remains ongoing.
