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A firefighter in Poughkeepsie, New York, fatally shot his wife at their home and tried to cover up the crime before he died by suicide, according to authorities.
The Ulster County Sheriff’s Office said that James “Jimmy” Brugger and Melinda “Mindy” Brugger were found dead at their home just before midnight on Friday, August 21, according to Lohud.
A family member and the family member’s friend found the couple unconscious, and they called 911 to report the incident. Authorities then responded to the home around 11:42 p.m., and emergency medical personnel determined that both Jimmy, 66, and Mindy, 54, were dead.
An investigation was launched into the matter, and detectives found evidence that indicated someone tried to conceal and tamper with items at the home.
Investigators concluded that Jimmy shot Melinda several times before he tampered with and removed evidence of the killing from the home. Once the crime scene was clear, he died by suicide.
The Sheriff’s Office said that the murder-suicide seemingly stemmed from unresolved domestic issues between the couple.
Both Jimmy and Mindy were members of the Ulster County first responder community.
Jimmy served as a lieutenant with the City of Poughkeepsie Fire Department, as well as chief of the Plattekill Fire Department. Meanwhile, Mindy was an EMT and CPR instructor with the Westchester Medical Center network.
Following their deaths, both the City of Poughkeepsie and Plattekill fire departments addressed the murder-suicide while condemning Jimmy for killing Mindy.
The City of Poughkeepsie Fire Department’s Local 596 said its members were “devastated” by Mindy’s death.
“Mindy was a bright light and a friend to so many of us. Her loss is deeply felt throughout our department and the larger first responder community,” the union wrote in a Facebook post shared on Tuesday, August 25.
They also said that Jimmy retired from the City of Poughkeepsie Fire Department in 2025 after more than 27 years of service.
“While we acknowledge his years of service, there is absolutely no place in our profession, our union, or our community for an act as horrific and deplorable as this,” the statement read, and the union added that Jimmy’s actions “do not represent the values of the members of Local 596, nor do they diminish the respect and gratitude we have for those who have served honorably.”
The union said that “what happened to Mindy was a deplorable act of violence that took the life of an innocent woman. Whatever struggles a person may face, there is never an excuse for murdering another human being.”
“No amount of years in the fire service, no accomplishments, and no personal history can diminish that truth. Mindy deserved better,” the statement added.
The Plattekill Fire Department shared a similar sentiment on Monday, August 24.
“Mindy dedicated herself to helping others. Her compassion, commitment, and service made a lasting impact on our department, the fire and EMS community, and the many people whose lives she touched,” the department wrote in a social media post.
While reflecting on the killing, the department said that Jimmy’s “actions were his own and do not represent the values of the Plattekill Fire Department, the fire service, or the members who continue to serve this community with honor, compassion, and respect for human life.”
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