4 days ago
Man Allegedly Kills Wife, Drives to Pregnant Girlfriend's House to Kill Her
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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A man in Dalton, Georgia, allegedly killed his wife and girlfriend, who was pregnant, before fatally shooting himself.
The Dalton Police Department identified the suspected shooter as 37-year-old Kevin Andrew Akins in an information release sent to Newsweek.
The Context
Police said Kevin fatally shot his wife, 35-year-old Rebeca Nicole Akins, at her apartment in Dalton early Wednesday morning. Detectives found surveillance footage of Kevin Akins leaving that apartment around 6 a.m.
Then, he drove to his girlfriend Cindel Mae Rhoden's apartment, where he allegedly shot and killed the 33-year-old. Rhoden's family said in a GoFundMe that she was five months pregnant when she was killed.
Police said Akins fatally shot himself after killing his wife and girlfriend.
What To Know
On Friday, officers were called to Rebeca Akins' apartment around 6 p.m. after her coworkers reported that they hadn't seen or heard from her for several days. Officers found her deceased with an apparent gunshot wound to the head.
Officers were able to trace Kevin's vehicle to Rhoden's apartment and were waiting for a search warrant when they saw Rhoden's father use a key to enter the home. He called 911 to report that he had found his daughter and another man dead inside the apartment.
Rhoden is survived by two young daughters, according to the GoFundMe.
Stock image: Police car lights at a crime scene investigation.
Stock image: Police car lights at a crime scene investigation.
Ajax9/Getty Images
Her aunt, Lynn Barker, spoke to Savannah news station WTOC about the immediate needs of the family.
"We would just like to have enough money to give her a burial she deserves, so those girls will have a place to go visit their mom," Barker said.
The family said the GoFundMe fundraiser will support funeral arrangements and the children.
"Cindel was in a relationship with a man who was married to his estranged wife and she fell victim of manipulation and in a devastating turn of events, he took the life of his wife, then drove to Cindel's home to kill her," the GoFundMe said.
What People Are Saying
Ashley Barker, GoFundMe organizer, on a fundraising page for Cindel Rhoden: "Cindel was more than just a victim of this tragedy she was kind, full of life, and a devoted mom doing her best for her girls. Her daughters are now in the care of family, but they need help."
Lynn Barker, Cindel Rhoden's aunt, told WTOC: "I know everybody judges. People speculate, and they're entitled to that. But as humans, don't lose compassion. There's a lot of lives that are devastated and broken. Nobody asked for this. Why it happened, we don't know."
What Happens Next
Dalton police said the investigation into the killings is ongoing. No motive for the shootings has been released.
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