17-year-old charged with stabbing mother was Jack Britt High student, wrestler

Fayetteville police arrested a 17-year-old after he allegedly stabbed his mom to death on Tuesday. 

According to the Fayetteville Police Department, at around 7 p.m. Tuesday, officers responded to a stabbing at a home on Daphne Circle. When they arrived, they found 49-year-old Katharine Svaldi dead from stab wounds. 

At the time of the initial release Tuesday, officers said they located a suspect on scene, and he was detained at that moment.

As of Wednesday, police identified the suspect as 17-year-old Isaac Tracy, who is Svaldi's son.

A friend said Svaldi was a mother of three. 

Tracy was charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bond. 

Students at Jack Britt High School told WRAL News that they rode the bus with Tracy, but they were shocked to hear about the charges against him. A Cumberland County schools spokesperson said he was a member of the high school wrestling team.

FPD said that in accordance with North Carolina law, Tracy was charged as an adult due to his age and the nature of the offense. Therefore, his name is a matter of public record. 

Friends of Svaldi say she lived a life full of love and devotion, and was accepting of everyone and their choices. Svalid's friends have started a GoFundMe to help with memorial cost.