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This week, a 38-year-old man was transferred from Illinois to Kentucky to face charges related to the murder of his estranged wife, an incident that occurred late last year.
Authorities have accused Phillip Whitnel of the fatal shooting of 31-year-old Stephanie Stacey at KC’s Bar and Grill on December 13, 2025. Witnesses say he approached her at her workplace and opened fire.
According to the Paducah Police Department, Whitnel fired several shots before escaping the scene. Stacey succumbed to her injuries at a nearby hospital.
Investigators swiftly uncovered the couple’s prior relationship and secured a murder warrant for Whitnel. His whereabouts were traced to Illinois, where Illinois State Police apprehended him during a traffic stop in Franklin County.
On Wednesday, Whitnel was returned to Kentucky, according to a report by Law & Crime. He is scheduled to appear in court on March 12.
Stacey was a mother of two and a stepmother of one.
According to WPSD, Kentucky legislators are pushing a law they’ve dubbed “Stephanie’s Law” to honor her. The legislation creates a domestic violence registry and requires anyone with at least two domestic violence convictions to be registered.