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A FAMILY of four was discovered dead inside their home after deputies were called for a welfare check.
Officers forced their way into the residence on August 14 after relatives raised concerns.
Investigators later confirmed the case was a suspected murder-suicide involving the parents and their two children.
The horror unfolded in Daphne, Alabama, a suburban city on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, about 20 miles from the port city of Mobile.
The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed all four victims died from gunshot wounds inside the suburban home, Fox local affiliate WALA reported.
Authorities said Kenneth Smith Jr, 44, is suspected of shooting his wife, Larrica Gaines Smith, 41, and their children, Kristian, 15, and Kensley, 11, before turning the gun on himself.
Smith’s relatives were concerned about a possible domestic violence incident or suicide.
Inside, they found the parents and children dead.
“It’s as tragic as it comes,” Sheriff Anthony Lowery said during a news conference.
Captain Daniel Steelman told USA TODAY the investigation is ongoing, but pointed to a suspected murder-suicide.
“There seems like there might have been some kind of domestic issue that might have escalated to this,” Lowery added.
He said the hardest part is that investigators may never know exactly what triggered the violence.
Pastor Trey Taylor of City Hope Church said the news shocked the congregation.
“This has shaken us deeply, affecting countless people within our church and our community,” he said.
The church later shared on Facebook: “Our church mourns the tragic loss of The Smiths alongside their relatives and community.”
Neighbors said the family had lived in the community for more than 20 years.
Murder-Suicide in the US
Annual Deaths (2016–2022): 820 per year
- 3,125 homicides
- 2,618 suicides
- Rate: 0.45 per 100,000 people
- State Variation: Highest in Alaska & Arizona; lowest in Massachusetts & New Hampshire
- Perpetrators: Mostly men (91% of suicides, 73% of homicides), often white, middle-to-late adulthood
Victims:
- Current/former intimate partners: 57%
- Children under 18: 14%
- Parents: 6%
- Method: Firearms in 90% of cases (88.9% homicides, 90.7% suicides)
- Risk Factors: Depression, relationship conflicts, financial stress, substance misuse, past trauma
Source: National Institute of Health
“They were salt of the earth, a fun-loving family,” Matt Russell told CBS local affiliate WKRG.
“It is just a very, very tragic feeling. To say I’m in shock, yes, I’m still in shock.”
A vigil was held outside the Smith home on August 15 as friends and residents gathered to remember the victims.
Just two weeks earlier, the couple had celebrated their wedding anniversary.
Larrica once worked as a real estate agent at EXIT Realty Lyon in Fairhope before leaving in 2018.
“She was so sweet, she was very quiet,” said Sue Lyon, her former boss.
“You never think something like that would happen to them because she was so quiet and polite.”
Lyon said she still can’t comprehend the tragedy: “I couldn’t believe something like this could happen.”
Friends remembered Larrica as a loyal companion and devoted mother.
“Larrica was one of the first friends I met when I moved to Birmingham,” Danielle Johnson wrote in a post.
“She was a bridesmaid in my wedding, hosted my first baby shower, and was always one call away.”
Johnson added: “I was so excited when she finally got pregnant and was able to have kids. My heart is broken. Rest in heaven with your precious babies sweet friend.”
Kristian and Kensley were both students in the Daphne public school system.
Sheriff Lowery said forensic work continues, but with the suspected shooter also dead, many answers may never come.
Pastor Trey Taylor did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The U.S. Sun.
