A quiet Lexington-area neighborhood was shattered early Sunday when 77-year-old Margie Berry was found dead inside her Berea home, and by late morning, her son, 51-year-old Kevin Berry, was discovered dead in a car on Interstate 75 in Whitley County, bringing a tragic end to what authorities now believe was a murder-suicide.
Margie’s body was discovered late Saturday night on Leslie Drive in Berea. The Madison County Coroner’s Office confirmed her death as a homicide, though details of her injuries have not yet been released. Neighbors reported hearing sirens early Sunday, and authorities quickly issued an attempt-to-locate alert for a vehicle believed to be connected to the investigation.
By mid-morning Sunday, that vehicle was spotted in Whitley County by Williamsburg Police. Assistant Chief Brandon White says officers saw the car traveling north on I-75, believed to be driven by the homicide suspect now identified as Kevin Berry. White followed the vehicle as it pulled toward the shoulder and into a grassy area before crashing into a rock wall.
Officers activated their lights and sirens and repeatedly issued commands to the driver, but saw no response or movement inside the car. After aerial surveillance with a drone confirmed it was safe to approach, officers made contact — and found Kevin Berry dead inside. Authorities said the cause was an apparent self-inflicted gunshot, consistent with preliminary findings that this was a murder followed by suicide.
The tense interstate scene led to temporary closures on both sides of I-75 near the 12.5-mile marker, snarling traffic for hours as law enforcement worked and confirmed there was no ongoing threat to the public. Southbound lanes reopened first, with northbound traffic still affected during peak travel times.
Kevin was more than just a suspect; according to officials, he once served in law enforcement, most recently as a captain with the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office. Friends and former colleagues described him as a dedicated officer, making the turn of events even more heartbreaking for those who knew him before Sunday’s tragedy.
Across Berea and surrounding counties, the story of a beloved matriarch and her son’s spiral into violence has left families and first responders grappling with the cost of domestic tragedy. Community members have begun leaving flowers and notes near the Berry home, expressing sorrow and solidarity with loved ones left behind.
Investigators continue processing both the Berea residence and the Whitley County crash site, and officials say toxicology and other forensic results will take time. Meanwhile, mourning relatives hope for answers as a community tries to make sense of a heartbreaking Sunday that began with a call for help and ended with two generations lost.
