On March 1, 2023, Kimberly Shepperd, 28, gave birth to a baby boy in a vacant house on Montjoy Street in Falmouth, Kentucky, and left the infant on a mattress with the placenta still attached, covered by a blanket. She then went to Harrison Memorial Hospital claiming she had suffered a miscarriage. Nursing staff grew suspicious and called 911. Police responded to the vacant home and found the newborn not breathing; he was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead by the Harrison County Coroner. A year-long investigation including DNA analysis confirmed the child was the product of an incestuous relationship between Kimberly and her maternal uncle, Allen Newkirk. Three people were arrested: Kimberly (incest, concealing birth, abuse of a corpse), Newkirk (incest), and Kimberly's grandfather Billy Shepperd (abuse of a corpse), who was also accused of helping leave the child at the house. The infant's cause of death remains undetermined.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The newborn was left entirely alone and unsupervised in a vacant house. Document 2 states that police "found a newborn baby boy not breathing under a blanket on a mattress in a vacant house" while the mother had gone to a hospital. Document 3 states: "Billy Shepperd and Kimberly Shepperd are accused of leaving the child at the house covered up with a blanket." The baby was abandoned without any supervision.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
The mother gave birth without medical assistance in a vacant house and abandoned the newborn without seeking any medical care for the baby. Document 2 states the baby was found with "the placenta was still attached to the baby" on a mattress in a vacant house while the mother went to a hospital and told staff she had a miscarriage rather than disclosing the birth. This failure to seek medical care for a just-born infant constitutes medical neglect.
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
All three documents describe incest charges. Document 2 states: "Kimberly Shepperd, 28, is facing charges of incest" and "Allen Newkirk, 62, is being charged with incest." The same document explains that "Kimberly was having an incestual relationship with Newkirk, her maternal uncle." Incest is a form of sexual abuse. While the sexual crime was between the adults rather than directed at the deceased child, the incestuous relationship directly produced the child and is a central element of this case.
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Allen Newkirk was confirmed as the biological father of the infant through DNA testing. Document 2 states: "DNA and the infant's body were sent to the medical examiner with the Kentucky State Police Crime Lab" and "It took nine months for the DNA results to come back, which confirmed that Kimberly and her uncle were the parents of the child." Newkirk was arrested and charged with incest in connection with the infant's death, though he was not specifically charged with causing the death.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Kimberly Shepperd is the biological mother of the infant. She gave birth to the baby in a vacant house, left the infant there, and went to a hospital claiming she had a miscarriage. Document 2 states she "is facing charges of incest, concealing the birth of an infant and abuse of a corpse." Document 3 states: "Billy Shepperd and Kimberly Shepperd are accused of leaving the child at the house covered up with a blanket. Kimberly Shepperd is accused of concealing the fact that she had given birth, telling hospital staff she suffered a miscarriage."
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Billy Shepperd, described as Kimberly's grandfather (age 81-82), was charged with abuse of a corpse. Document 3 states: "Billy Shepperd and Kimberly Shepperd are accused of leaving the child at the house covered up with a blanket." Additionally, Allen Newkirk (the maternal uncle) was charged with incest. Both are adult relatives involved in the circumstances surrounding the infant's death.
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Three adults were arrested in connection with the infant's death, though none were charged with directly causing the death. Document 3 states: "Following a yearlong investigation, the Falmouth Police Department arrested three people in connection with the infant's death." Kimberly Shepperd was charged with incest, concealing the birth of an infant, and abuse of a corpse; Allen Newkirk was charged with incest; Billy Shepperd was charged with abuse of a corpse. These charges are related to the death but are not homicide or manslaughter charges. The cause of death remains undetermined.
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details merit attention. The infant was the product of an incestuous relationship between Kimberly Shepperd (the mother) and her maternal uncle Allen Newkirk, as confirmed by DNA testing through the Kentucky State Police Crime Lab. The grandfather, Billy Shepperd (age 81-82), was also implicated and charged with abuse of a corpse for his role in leaving the child at the vacant house. Document 2 quotes Chief Hart: "I've been doing this for about 30 years, and this is the first case I've ever had like this... this, to me, was one of the more disturbing ones that I've been on." The DNA testing took nine months. Additionally, Document 2 reports that a new family moved into the once-vacant home the day before the press conference and was deeply upset upon learning the history: "We are dumbfounded... Me being a mother of two myself, it has me an emotional wreck." They tried to back out of the deal but were told it was too late.
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