Kentucky Murder-Suicide: Two people are dead, and one remains in critical condition following an apparent murder-suicide in Crab Orchard, Kentucky, late Wednesday night, February 26, 2025.
Kentucky State Police (KSP) from Post 7 in Richmond responded to a shooting at a residence on Main Street just before 11:45 p.m. after receiving a call for assistance.
The incident has left the small Lincoln County community reeling as authorities piece together the events that led to this violent tragedy.
Investigators have identified Spencer Baldwin, a 30-year-old Crab Orchard resident, as the shooter. According to KSP, Baldwin shot two individuals—his wife, Heather Baldwin, also 30, of Crab Orchard, and Dennis Perry, 40, of Loretto—before turning the gun on himself.
Heather Baldwin was transported to Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital with life-threatening injuries but succumbed to them shortly after arrival. She was pronounced dead by Lincoln County Coroner Farris Marcum. Spencer Baldwin was found dead at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, also confirmed by the coroner.
Dennis Perry, meanwhile, sustained severe injuries and was rushed to Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center in Danville, where he remains hospitalized in critical condition as of Friday morning, February 28, 2025.
The circumstances leading to the shooting are still under investigation, with KSP yet to release a definitive motive. Preliminary findings suggest a domestic connection, as Heather and Spencer Baldwin were married, though Dennis Perry’s relationship to the couple remains unclear.
The incident unfolded rapidly at the Main Street residence, a quiet area in Crab Orchard, a town of roughly 700 residents located about 50 miles south of Lexington. Neighbors expressed shock, noting that the Baldwins kept a low profile in the tight-knit community.
Autopsies for Spencer and Heather Baldwin are scheduled at the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort to determine the exact causes of death, though initial reports point to gunshot wounds as the primary factor.
This tragedy marks yet another instance of domestic violence escalating to fatal consequences in Kentucky, a state that has seen multiple murder-suicides in recent years. For example, in October 2024, a Clinton County man was believed to have killed his mother and her friend before taking his own life, highlighting a troubling pattern.
In the Crab Orchard case, the survival of Dennis Perry offers hope for further insight, though his condition remains precarious. Local authorities have not indicated whether prior incidents of violence or distress calls involving the Baldwins were documented, leaving many questions unanswered as the investigation continues.
The Lincoln County community is now grappling with the aftermath, with an outpouring of grief and support emerging online and in local gatherings. Posts on social media reflect a mix of sorrow and calls for prayers, with one user writing, “Heartbreaking news out of Crab Orchard—praying for Dennis Perry’s recovery and peace for all affected.”
Kentucky State Police have assured the public that there is no ongoing threat, describing the incident as isolated. As the investigation progresses, the focus remains on supporting the survivors and understanding what drove Spencer Baldwin to commit such a devastating act, ending in the loss of two lives and his own.