The daughter of a woman killed in an upstate New York murder-suicide says her former stepfather had also sexually assaulted her, stolen her underwear and created a disturbing collection of her personal belongings.
Melissa K. Pelc-Lohr, 50, was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head inside her Moira home on Oct. 27, according to New York State Police.
Authorities later located a red 2009 Chevrolet Silverado believed to be connected to the killing and attempted to pull over the driver, identified as Pelc-Lohr’s former husband, Norman E. Lohr Jr., 50, of Michigan.
Lohr allegedly led troopers on a 200-mile pursuit before shooting himself in Lyons, New York, police said.
In the aftermath, Pelc-Lohr’s daughter, Allison Pelc, publicly described a pattern of disturbing conduct she says involved sexual assault, stalking and repeated violations of protection orders.
“There had been years of warning signs leading up to her death. My former stepdad, Norman, also known as Ed, raped me, and I endured harassment for years,” Allison, who lives in Michigan, said in a Facebook video.
“After what he did to me, he became obsessed and would not stop,” Pelc said. “I tried to protect myself through the legal system, and now my mom is gone.”
Pelc shared footage that she said showed a disturbing “shrine” inside Lohr’s closet. The items allegedly included her underwear, a used sanitary napkin, other personal belongings and what she described as “inappropriate items and liquids.” She also claimed the closet had previously held about 100 firearms.
According to Pelc, Lohr took her underwear, including the used sanitary napkin, and placed it in his pocket. She also said surveillance footage showed him searching through her belongings and following her to her vehicle.
After Pelc-Lohr discovered the alleged shrine, her daughter said, her mother attempted to leave Lohr and “worked so hard for her own safety that she moved.”
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Pelc said she and her mother went to a sheriff’s office to report the alleged January 2023 assault, citing a screenshot from a personal protection order filing.
“I had to get two [orders of protection] just to try to feel safe,” Pelc said. “But nothing happens. We keep allowing people to get away with things.” She alleged that Lohr violated the orders at least three times without facing consequences.
A Michigan court hearing had been set for Oct. 28 regarding alleged violations of one of the restraining orders—one day after the fatal shooting and suicide.
Pelc also said she contacted the FBI’s Detroit office but never received a response.
Pelc-Lohr is survived by two children, including Allison, who are “now facing the heartbreaking reality of life without their mother,” according to a GoFundMe campaign.
The killing occurred only days after Pelc-Lohr returned from Las Vegas, where she had celebrated her daughter’s 30th birthday.
“On Tuesday, October 27, Melissa Pelc’s life was tragically taken in a senseless act of stalking-related domestic violence. A devastating and unimaginable loss,” the fundraiser said.
“Being here is incredibly difficult. Everything feels as though she has simply gone out to run errands and could walk through the front door at any moment,” Pelc wrote in an update on the fundraising page.
The FBI, New York State Police and local Michigan authorities did not immediately respond to The Post’s requests for comment.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.