‘Fun-loving' family of four found dead in their home as cops confirm chilling reason they were called
Officers forced their way into the residence on August 14 after relatives raised concerns.
3
3
3
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.
Hunt for killer after woman 'murdered' outside care home in early hours attack
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 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.
'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 continued.
'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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
Hollyoaks star calls on late mother's friends not to attend stepfather's funeral
Hollyoaks star Callum Kerr has called on friends of his late mother not to attend his stepfather's funeral, after the couple were found dead in what is being treated as a murder-suicide. Andrew Searle and Dawn Kerr, who were both aged in their 60s, were found dead in their home in the south of France in the early afternoon of February 6. Mrs Kerr was found lying dead in front of her house partly undressed and with a significant head injury while Mr Searle was found hanged inside the property, which is in the hamlet of Les Pesquies in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Aveyron. Police launched an investigation to establish whether the couple died as a result of a murder-suicide, or if a third party was involved. Prosecutor Fabrice Belargent previously said that 'the analysis carried out does not so far show any evidence that a third party was involved'. In a statement posted on social media on Tuesday Mr Kerr said it would be 'inappropriate' for his mother's memory to be 'associated with a service honouring the man who, based on all available evidence, may have been responsible for her death'. He called on the funeral arrangements for the pair to be kept separate and for photographs showing the couple together not to be shared. The full statement, which is signed by Kerr and his sister Amanda Kerr, reads: 'In the absence of any evidence suggesting third-party involvement in the tragic death of our mother, Dawn Kerr, the prevailing hypothesis remains that of a murder-suicide. 'Our mother was killed by multiple blows to the head, and Andrew was found deceased by hanging. 'His injuries are consistent with self-hanging, and no defensive wounds were found on his body. 'There is also no evidence of any third-party's involvement at this stage. 'While the official investigation is still ongoing, we cannot ignore the circumstances as they stand. 'For this reason, we must respectfully but firmly request that our mother not be included in any way in the funeral arrangements being made for Andrew. 'Please do not share photographs of them together. 'Please do not attend Andrew's service if you were a friend of our mother. 'It would be inappropriate for her memory to be associated with a service honouring the man who, based on all available evidence, may have been responsible for her death. 'We ask for understanding, privacy and respect as we continue to grieve and seek justice for our mum.' Callum Kerr played Pc George Kiss in the popular Channel 4 soap opera, and appeared in Netflix's Virgin River. According to his LinkedIn page, Mr Searle was a retired fraud investigator specialising in financial crime prevention who worked at companies including Standard Life and Barclays. A statement issued by French prosecutors in February said: 'The two deceased persons, a man and a woman, were the owners of the house in which their bodies were discovered. 'They were British expatriates, retired, and had been living in Aveyron for five years. 'The first victim, Ms Kerr, has a significant head injury. 'A box containing jewellery was found near to her, but no item or weapon which could have caused the injuries were located. 'Mr Searle, who was found hanged… did not show any visible defensive injuries.'
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Hollyoaks actor Callum Kerr whose 'mother was killed by her husband in murder-suicide' tells friends not to attend stepfather's funeral
Hollyoaks actor Callum Kerr has urged friends of his late mother not attend his stepfather's funeral after the pair are believed to have been killed in a murder-suicide. Andrew Searle, 65, and his wife Dawn, 56, were found dead at their home in Les Pequies, south west France by a horrified neighbour on February 6 this year. Mrs Searle was discovered in her pyjamas outside their house with a head injury and jewellery scattered around her body. Her husband, a former financial investigator, was found dead inside the house, hanging from a radiator. Earlier this year, a prosecutor in charge of the case concluded there was no evidence that another person was involved in their deaths, meaning one of the spouses murdered the other before dying by suicide. Mr Kerr has now urged friends of his mother not to attend Mr Searle's funeral, saying it would be 'inappropriate' for her memory to be associated with the man 'who may have been responsible for her death'. He said in a statement on social media: 'In the absence of any evidence suggesting third-party involvement in the tragic death of our mother, Dawn Kerr, the prevailing hypothesis remains that of a murder-suicide. 'Our mother was killed by multiple blows to the head, and Andrew was found deceased by hanging. His injuries are consistent with self-hanging, and no defensive wounds were found on his body. There is also no evidence whatsoever of any third party's involvement at this stage. Mr Kerr said in a post on social media it would be 'inappropriate' for her memory to be associated with the man 'who may have been responsible for her death' 'While the official investigation is still ongoing, we cannot ignore the circumstances as they stand,' the statement continued. 'For this reason, we must respectfully but firmly request that our mother not be included in any way in the funeral arrangements being made for Andrew. Please do not share photographs of them together.' 'Please do not attend Andrew's service if you were a friend of our mother. It would be inappropriate for her memory to be associated with a service honouring the man who, based on all available evidence, may have been responsible for her death. 'We ask for understanding, privacy and respect as we continue to grieve and seek justice for our mum.' Actor and country singer Mr Kerr attended the couple's wedding and walked his mother down the aisle during the ceremony in France in 2023. Mr Kerr starred as PC George Kiss in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks and has appeared in the romantic drama Virgin River on Netflix. Mr Kerr, who now lives in the southern US state of Tennessee, released a statement on behalf of the Searles' grief-stricken children following their parents' deaths earlier this year. He wrote: 'At this time, Callum Kerr and Amanda Kerr are grieving the loss of their mother, Dawn Searle, while Tom Searle and Ella Searle are mourning the loss of their father, Andrew Searle.' Back in February, investigators reportedly believed that a marital crime followed by a suicide was probable, after examinations in the house and garden failed to uncover evidence of a third party. It was initially believed Mrs Searle had tried to run away from an attacker before she was caught and battered to death. There was also evidence of a frantic search inside the property, with drawers and cupboards left open and furniture upended. But inquiry sources said that Mrs Searle 'would have certainly been heard by near neighbours' if she had been murdered in the garden. Post-mortem examination results also showed there were no defensive wounds on Mr Searle, nor any forensic evidence suggesting persons unknown touched him or his wife. The couple had started a new life at a villa in picturesque Les Pesquiès, north of Toulouse, after moving from Musselburgh in East Lothian, Scotland, ten years ago. Less than 24 hours before he was found dead, CCTV footage appeared to show Mr Searle entering a tobacconist in Villefranche-de-Rouergue. It is understood that he spent at least 20 years working with the police and Serious Fraud Office targeting organised crime groups involved in financial crimes such as money laundering.
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Grieving family of Hollyoaks star's mum killed ‘in horror murder-suicide' in France ban joint funeral from taking place
GRIEVING family of a Hollyoaks star's mum has banned a joint funeral with their stepfather as cops believe he murdered her before taking his own life. Brit expats Andrew and Dawn Searle both died in February at their remote home in Les Pesquiès, north of Toulouse, France. 5 5 5 Financial crime buster Andrew, 62, was found hanging from a radiator while wife Dawn, 56, suffered multiple blows to the head. Police initially probed whether it was a gangland hit linked to his former job, but are now treating the tragedy as a murder-suicide. Dawn's heartbroken son Callum Kerr, an actor and singer, and his grieving sister Amanda want their mum left out of her husband's funeral. They have 'firmly' requested Andrew's family not to include her in their service and urged Dawn's friends not to go or post pictures of the couple together. Callum and Amanda wrote in a family statement posted on their social media today: 'It would be inappropriate for her memory to be associated with a service honouring the man who, based on all available evidence, may have been responsible for her death.' The siblings claim murder-suicide is the 'prevailing hypothesis', adding: 'There is also no evidence whatsoever of any third party's involvement at this stage'. They will be climbing Sicily's Mount Etna to mark what would have been their mum's 58th birthday on May 18 next year. A GoFundMe page in their mum's previous name Dawn Kerr has raised more than £3,400 for domestic violence charity Women's Aid. It reads: 'In February, our mum was taken from us. There's no way to put into words how that feels. 'But we're hoping this challenge brings some good into the world in her name. Home birth influencer arrested over death of baby 'after leaving mum in labour for TWO DAYS without calling ambulance 'We want to create something that reflects who she truly was, and to change what comes up when people search her name. 'This is for Dawn Kerr. Always.' Dawn's son, Callum, is best known for playing PC George Kiss in the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks between 2020 and 2021. Callum also starred in Netflix 's Virgin River - playing young Everett, Mel's father, in the most recent series. The 30-year-old has over 135,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and released his new track Cold Beer Cold just hours after his mum's death. Dawn was found lying in front of her house, partly undressed, while Andrew was found hanged from a radiator. It remains unclear when exactly the pair died. A post-mortem found Dawn died from a "significant head wound" but it remains unclear how long she received that before the shocking discovery of their bodies. Police said she suffered "multiple blows to the head with a blunt and sharp-edged object." 5 5
