‘Favorite Foodie’ TV personality, sons die in Plano murder-suicide

A 45-year-old Plano woman who appeared on WFAA’s Saturday morning Daybreak program and one of her teenage sons were stabbed to death with kitchen knives early Friday by an older son who then fatally stabbed himself, authorities said.

Stacy Fawcett, who contributed to the Daybreak program as “Dallas’ Favorite Foodie,” and her 17-year-old son Joisah Utu were found dead after 19-year old McCann Utu Jr. called 911, telling the call-taker, “I have committed murder,” a Plano police spokesman said.

Fawcett’s brother Justin Fawcett told WFAA that McCann Utu went on a rampage — taking knives from the kitchen and stabbing his mom and brother, a senior at Plano West High School.

According to the police report, officers responded to a stabbing call about 12:30 a.m. in the 3100 block of Communications Parkway in Plano. The officers found Fawcett and Josiah Utu dead at the scene, with McCann Utu alive with multiple self-inflicted stab wounds.

Justin Fawcett told News 8 that McCann Utu called 911 while repeatedly stabbing himself. He died later at a local hospital.

Waseem Limbada, a friend of McCann Utu, told WFAA that his friend changed after suffering a concussion in the fall of 2013 while playing for the Plano West basketball team. He said Utu never played again because he couldn’t pass the concussion protocol test.

“When he kept failing it, he had a lot of free time on his hands, he wasn’t showing up to practice,” Limbada said. “It just put him with the wrong crowd, started doing drugs, started being with the wrong people.

“I felt like he was depressed emotionally.”

Limbada now plays basketball at Graceland University in Iowa. He just finished his freshman season.

“I pretty much woke up to a nightmare because I’ve known McCann since he was in first grade,” Limbada said.

Fawcett, who also contributed to radio station KVIL/103.7 FM’s website as a food blogger, is identified on the Stacy Fawcett WFAA Daybreak’s Favorite Foodie Facebook page as a foodie blogger and culinary enthusiast.

The www.stacyfawcett.com website now directs to a KVIL “Remembering Stacy Fawcett” page.

“We will miss her kind, gentle spirit and her loving personality,” says a statement on the page. “But even as we mourn her loss, we want to celebrate her wonderful gift for — and love of — food.” The page includes a link to all her food-blog posts.

On the Fawcett Foods website, Fawcett described her company’s mission as “bringing awareness to hunger and those dealing with food insecurity. … Our goal is to provide quality food products while giving back to the community.” She was an advocate for fighting hunger in other ways as well, such as supporting local food banks.

Fawcett was well-known in both the Dallas media and food communities, with many in both communities posting their condolences on social media.

“We are heartbroken,” Leigh Ann Adam, co-host of the Leigh Ann And Courtney Kerr Uncorked afternoon show on KVIL, posted on Facebook. “We love you Stacy Fawcett. You were an angel on earth and now one in heaven.”

“I am in shock,” posted KDFW/Channel 4 traffic reporter Todd Caruth. “Stacy was one of the sweetest, most giving people I have ever known. My heart goes out to her friends and family.”

“She always had a smile and big heart … such a vibrant personality,” the Plano Ben & Jerry’s shop posted on its Facebook page. “She was also one of our very favorite celebrity scoopers.” Fawcett was scheduled to be a “celebrity scooper” at the shop next Tuesday.

Many others took to Twitter to express their shock and sadness.

“I am just heartsick right now,” tweeted Jasmine Sadry of the Hawkeye in the Morning show on KSCS/96.3 FM. “@StacyFawcett was hands down one of the sweetest humans on this planet. So sad.”

This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 11:45 AM with the headline "‘Favorite Foodie’ TV personality, sons die in Plano murder-suicide."