A 58-year-old social worker who grew up in Claremont was shot and killed by her husband as she was calling police for help, according to Vermont State Police.

Lisa Kelley had called 911 shortly before 7 a.m. Monday from their home on King Road in Elmore, Vt., saying her husband, Lawrence Jay Kennedy, “had threatened to harm her and destroy her belongings while she was at work,” police said in a news release. Lisa Kelley also told police that they were in the process of separating.

During the call, the police dispatcher heard a gunshot, and Lisa Kelley “became unresponsive to questions,” the release said.

Police from several departments went to the Lamoille County home and found the bodies of both Kelley and the 61-year-old Kennedy, the release said.

An autopsy determined Kelley died of a gunshot wound to the torso, and that Kennedy died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said late Tuesday. His rifle was found at the scene.

Kelley, who grew up in Claremont, was trained as a forensic interviewer and investigator and worked as a social worker for the Vermont Department for Children and Families, according to her LinkedIn profile. A graduate of Worcester (Mass.) State College with a master’s degree from Plymouth State University, she taught English at Oxbow High School in Bradford, Vt., from 1998 to 2004, the profile said.

Her older brother, Brian Kelley, who lives in North Carolina, declined to comment on Wednesday.

Vermont State Police asked anyone with information about the incident to call the Williston barracks at 802-878-7111.

Victims of domestic violence can find help by calling 211 in either of the Twin States. Safeline’s 24-hour hotline is 1-800-639-7233. WISE advocates can be reached by calling 866-348-9473 or texting 603-836-9472. Online chat is also available at wiseuv.org.

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