GUYTON, Ga. (WSAV) - Local hospitality business owners are reacting to the shocking murder-suicide at the Mahgniffe LLC catering location.
According to the Effingham County Sheriff's Office, a husband and wife were found dead Friday afternoon. They've been identified as Nick and Tracy Mueller.
Customers, coworkers and loved ones have said they're all mourning this loss. The pair gave 25 years of service to the community, many people who knew them say never saw this coming.
"I still don't believe it, you know? I just didn't see any of that happening ever," Stephen Williams, Chef owner of Coastal Kitchen Catering, said. "So "It just wasn't that vibe ever."
Williams says he worked closely with the couple for years, working his way up to Nick's sous-chef. This news is something he was shocked to hear.
"You know, of course, in the food industry, there's heated and stressful moments... things get tense and heated. Sometimes, if somebody makes a mistake, it could be a very sort of stressful environment," Williams said.
They had a reputation of quality food and service. Jamie Weaver, owner of Dream Weaver Photos and Photobooth, talked about how driven Nick was.
"He was just like such a professional, and I hate to say perfectionist, but it seemed that way when I would see pictures of events that he did...really, like, top notch, and he was the best in his field," she said.
Williams said the couple worked very well together and seemed to perfect for each other.
"They were just awesome people. You could tell that they were in love, and you always thought about them being a match made in heaven," Williams said.
This situation is hard for Sarah Aliffi-Baez, a former colleague and friend of Tracy and Nick, to understand.
"As wonderful as all the things that they did are, It's also possible for something horrific and tragic to have happened and not understand it," Aliffi-Baez said.
Aliffi-Baez tells News 3, she hopes the family, friends and employees of the company are taking care of themselves. She acknowledged that the hospitality business can be stressful at times, but folks should take time to relax and decompress.
If you're struggling, share your feelings with someone. The Suicide and Crisis Hotline is 9-8-8.