Agent’s shooting death has local real estate community in mourning, on alert

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Following the death Friday of a realtor in what police describe as a murder-suicide, real estate agents are offering condolences while raising awareness about their own safety.

Police say Albert Baglione, 84, told them “I shot my realtor” at a home on Bolling Road. When they arrived, they heard a gunshot and found both Baglione and realtor Soren Arn-Oelschlegel dead.

Sources tell 10 On Your Side Baglione had already signed a contract to purchase the home sight-unseen and was unhappy with it. It could have been the only face-to-face meeting between the two men, a final walk-through prior to when Baglione would have taken possession of the property.

Wendy Carbaugh is a realtor with 17 years of experience in Hampton Roads and said the community is in mourning.

“We feel sad for [Arn-Oelschlegel] and his entire family for what happened. Everything comes with risk,” she said in a Monday afternoon interview. “You are working with people you don’t know. You don’t know their families and their backgrounds.”

Like so many in that business, she’s now mourning the death of a colleague and concerned for her own safety. Whenever she’s alone with a client, she takes precautions.

She leaves the key in the front door and lets the client enter the home first.

“Because they can close the door, and if you’re walking in front of them they can close the door and lock it behind you, and then you’re trapped,” she explained.

Carbaugh keeps the front door keys in the door, and her car keys close at hand to trigger her car alarm if needed. She’ll tell people in her office where she’s going. When she goes upstairs while showing a home, she stays out of the bedrooms and lets the client explore.

“I’ll let them wander in each room and I’ll stand in the hallway,” she said, adding she won’t let herself get in a room with an unfamiliar client.

Carbaugh has a concealed carry permit. She hasn’t carried on the job — yet — but Arn-Oelschlegel’s death could very well change that.

“I haven’t felt that need yet,” she said.

However, she says she’s close to changing her mind and knows of other realtors who carry guns for protection.

The National Association of Realtors has advice for its members to remain safe when dealing with clients.

On Wednesday, Long & Foster released the following statement on Arn-Oelschlegel’s death:

Our Long & Foster family is devastated by the tragic loss of our beloved colleague and friend, Soren Arn-Oelschlegel. An accomplished Realtor in our Smithfield Suffolk office in the Hampton Roads region, Soren (41) fell victim to a terrible crime on Oct. 8, 2021.

Soren grew up in the industry—his father, a general contractor and home inspector for most of his life, and his mother, a Realtor—and that lifelong experience instilled in Soren a passion for real estate and for helping people.

In his business, Soren leveraged the tagline, “Unusual Name, Uncommon Service,” and he delivered on that promise by helping hundreds of clients achieve their homeownership dreams. His colleagues in Hampton Roads shared that Soren helped any, and every, one on their real estate journeys—no matter where they were in the process. His strong beliefs in family and home guided him, and he once said, “I remain devoted to those I serve because it is important people know that I am here for them.”

Soren truly exemplified Long & Foster’s values of trust, family and excellence in all aspects of his life. In fact, it was our culture of family that attracted Soren to Long & Foster. From the camaraderie in our local offices all the way up the corporate ladder, Long & Foster’s commitment to our people and communities echoed many of the principles Soren held in high regard.

His loss will be felt not only across our company, but also the greater real estate community and Hampton Roads region.

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There will a celebration of life candlelight vigil for Arn-Oelschlegel on Thursday, October 14 at 7 p.m. at The Wave Club at 4107 Colley Avenue in Norfolk.