The Case of Kirby Carpenter

Kirby McCord Carpenter, 36, was shot and killed outside the home he shared with his girlfriend, Caitlin Spence, in rural Tippah County, Mississippi, on November 30, 2022. His body was concealed and not discovered for two days. Investigators eventually arrested Caitlin and both of her parents, alleging a family conspiracy motivated by money. Caitlin and her mother pleaded guilty to accessory charges, while Jeffrey Spence was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in March 2026.

Kirby Carpenter was a 36-year-old businessman, precious-metals dealer and Marine Corps veteran who lived in the Dry Creek community outside Booneville, Mississippi. He operated Mississippi Gold, Silver and Coin Exchange and was involved in several businesses. He was known for dealing in gold, silver, coins and large amounts of cash. Carpenter was also a father of two young children. He began dating Caitlin Spence in 2020. The couple eventually lived together in Tippah County and had a daughter, Enola, in July 2022. Caitlin's parents, Jeffrey and Karen Spence, had travelled from Virginia to Mississippi following the birth of their granddaughter and stayed with the couple for a period of time. By late November 2022, the Spences had returned to Virginia.

On November 30, 2022, Carpenter returned to his home after going to a local grocery store. Investigators determined that he was shot shortly after arriving at the property. Carpenter was killed by a single shotgun blast to the chest. His body was subsequently moved and concealed outside the home. A curtain or covering was placed over him, and a toolbox was positioned on top of his body. Blood and drag marks were later found in the carport, indicating that Carpenter had been moved after he was shot. His body remained undiscovered for approximately two days.

Caitlin Spence called 911 on December 2, 2022, reporting that she had found Carpenter's body outside the property. Investigators initially had to determine whether Carpenter's murder was connected to his business activities. He was known to carry substantial amounts of cash, precious metals and other valuables. The investigation eventually focused on the Spence family. Investigators discovered evidence that property belonging to Carpenter had been taken and that valuables and cash were found connected to the Spences. A major development occurred approximately one year after the murder when investigators obtained information from David Barnes, a former employee of Carpenter. Barnes told authorities that Caitlin had told him that things had "got out of hand" and that her father, Jeffrey Spence, had killed Carpenter. On November 30, 2023, exactly one year after Carpenter's murder, authorities arrested Caitlin Spence, Jeffrey Spence and Karen Spence. All three were initially charged in connection with Carpenter's murder and an alleged conspiracy involving theft. Caitlin subsequently reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. She pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to murder and agreed to testify against her parents. Karen also pleaded guilty to an accessory charge. Caitlin testified that after she discovered Carpenter's body, her father told her that he had killed him. She also described the circumstances surrounding her parents' relationship with Carpenter and the events before and after the shooting. Prosecutors argued that money and greed were the motive and that Jeffrey had targeted Carpenter because of the large amounts of cash and precious metals he routinely handled. Jeffrey Spence denied killing Carpenter and maintained that he had been in Virginia when the murder occurred. His first trial in September 2025 ended in a hung jury, with jurors deadlocked 6–6. He was retried in March 2026.

On March 27, 2026, a second jury found Jeffrey Spence guilty of first-degree murder in Carpenter's death. He was acquitted of capital murder and manslaughter. The judge immediately sentenced Spence to life imprisonment. Caitlin Spence previously pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to murder and cooperated with prosecutors. In March 2026, she received a 20-year suspended sentence, meaning she did not serve prison time, subject to the conditions imposed by the court. Karen Spence also pleaded guilty to an accessory charge and received a suspended sentence.

The case became notable because investigators ultimately uncovered an alleged family conspiracy surrounding the murder of a successful businessman, with Carpenter's girlfriend and both of her parents initially facing charges. The first trial of Jeffrey Spence ended without a verdict before a second jury convicted him of first-degree murder.