Kentucky State Police (KSP) are investigating a double murder after two adults were found dead early Thursday morning on Big Stoner Road. Authorities have confirmed that one man is in custody in connection with the killings.
The victims, identified as 20-year-old Dixie Brainard and an unidentified male, were discovered at the scene by responding officers. Brainard’s parents described her as a devoted mother and the oldest of five siblings. “She was my little stinker,” said her father, Daniel Brainard, who shared memories of working on cars and welding with his daughter. Dixie leaves behind a young son, whom her family plans to care for in her memory.
Police arrested the suspect, 19-year-old Christopher Taulbee, at the Rowan/Carter County line without incident. Taulbee, who is reportedly the father of Dixie’s child, has been charged with two counts of murder and is being held in Bourbon County Jail. Taulbee is accused of shooting Brainard in the head and then stabbing the male victim in the throat, before hitting him in the head with a baseball bat.
The investigation is ongoing. Bourbon County Dispatch initially received the call before contacting KSP for assistance. Multiple agencies, including the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office and Paris Police Department, are aiding in the investigation.
Dixie’s father emphasized that her death highlights the dangers of domestic violence. “This was jealousy and rage at its worst,” he said, urging others to seek help if they face similar situations.
For those affected by domestic violence, resources are available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233 or by texting BEGIN to 88788.
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