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Background: KC”s Bar and Grill in Paducah, Kentucky (Google Maps). Inset top: Stephanie Stacey (Milner & Orr Funeral Home). Inset bottom: Phillip Whitnel (McCracken County Jail).
Kentucky authorities report a tragic incident where a woman was fatally shot by her estranged husband while she was on duty at a bar. The couple was reportedly in the midst of a divorce.
According to McCracken County jail records, 38-year-old Phillip Whitnel faces charges of murder in connection with domestic violence, as well as breaching a Kentucky emergency protective order or domestic violence order. He is accused of the murder of 31-year-old Stephanie Stacey.
The incident occurred in the early hours of December 13, 2025, at around 3:14 a.m. Stacey was present at KC’s Bar and Grill in Paducah, which the Paducah Police Department referred to as a “nightclub” in a press release. This city is situated in western Kentucky, near the Ohio River, and just a short distance from Brookport, Illinois.
Witnesses reported that Whitnel allegedly entered the bar and fired multiple shots at Stacey before making a hasty exit, as stated by the police. Stacey was transported to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased.
The police investigation uncovered that Whitnel and Stacey had a previous relationship, with local NBC affiliate WPSD reporting they were married but undergoing divorce proceedings. It was noted that Stacey was working at the time of the shooting.
Detectives obtained a warrant charging Whitnel with murder, but they learned he had fled to Illinois. They tracked him there, and Illinois State Police pulled him over while he was driving and arrested him.
He was booked into the Franklin County Jail in Illinois until Wednesday, when he was extradited back to McCracken County, Kentucky. He was served with an indictment and he is expected to appear in court on March 12.
Stacey’s obituary says she “thrived in the restaurant and hospitality industry, endearing herself to colleagues and guests alike through her kind-hearted spirit, steadfast dedication, and an admirable work ethic that never faltered. She was a ray of light in every establishment she graced, and her warm demeanor made her a favorite among patrons and peers.”
She was a mother of two and a stepmother to one, with one of her sons and the stepdaughter holding the same last name as the defendant.
WPSD reported that a piece of legislation in Kentucky named “Stephanie’s Law” is being pushed in honor of her. The law would require that someone with at least two domestic violence offenses be placed on a registry where details such as their name, date of birth, crimes, and a photograph would be available to the public.