On March 1, 2023, around 7:30 PM, Pendleton County dispatchers received a 911 call from Harrison Memorial Hospital after a 28-year-old woman, Kimberly Shepperd, came to the emergency room claiming she had suffered a miscarriage. Nursing staff grew suspicious and believed she may have actually given birth, prompting a welfare check. Police responded to a vacant home on Montjoy Street in Falmouth, Kentucky, where they found a newborn baby boy not breathing, lying on a mattress with the placenta still attached. The infant was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead on arrival. A year-long investigation involving DNA analysis through the Kentucky State Police Crime Lab revealed the child was the product of an incestuous relationship between Shepperd and her maternal uncle, Allen Newkirk, age 62. Three people were ultimately arrested: Shepperd (incest, concealing birth of an infant, abuse of a corpse), Newkirk (incest), and Billy Shepperd, 82, the mother's grandfather (abuse of a corpse). The infant's cause of death remains undetermined, as investigators were unable to establish whether the baby was stillborn or born alive.
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 completely alone and unsupervised in a vacant house. The second article 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 the hospital claiming a miscarriage. The baby was abandoned with no supervision or care whatsoever.
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 to the newborn in a vacant house and left the baby on a mattress with the placenta still attached, then went to a hospital for herself claiming a miscarriage. The second article states: "The child was on a mattress where the lady had been lying. It was a newborn infant. The placenta was still attached to the baby." The baby received no medical care at or after birth, constituting a failure to provide necessary medical attention for a newborn.
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?
The second article explicitly reports incest charges against both Kimberly Shepperd and Allen Newkirk: "Kimberly Shepperd, 28, is facing charges of incest" and "Allen Newkirk, 62, is being charged with incest." Chief Hart revealed that "Kimberly was having an incestual relationship with Newkirk, her maternal uncle." Incest is a sexual offense. While this describes a sexual crime between adults rather than direct sexual abuse of the child, the incestuous relationship is central to the case and constitutes a sexual crime that directly produced the child.
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, 62, is confirmed by DNA as the biological father of the child. The second article states: "DNA and the infant's body were sent to the medical examiner with the Kentucky State Police Crime Lab" and "DNA results... confirmed that Kimberly and her uncle were the parents of the child." Newkirk was charged with incest in connection with this case. His incestuous relationship with the mother directly led to the pregnancy that was concealed, contributing to the circumstances surrounding the death, though his direct involvement in the death itself is not specified.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Kimberly Shepperd, 28, is the biological mother. The second article states she gave birth to the child in the vacant house, then went to the hospital claiming a miscarriage: "Hospital emergency room staff suspected a newborn infant may be in distress because a Falmouth woman, now known as Kimberly, came to the hospital complaining of suffering from a miscarriage." She faces charges of "incest, concealing the birth of an infant and abuse of a corpse."
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, 82, the mother's grandfather, was charged with abuse of a corpse: "Billy Shepperd, 82, faces one count of abuse of a corpse." The second article also notes that Allen Newkirk, who is both the biological father and the maternal uncle, was involved. Chief Hart stated: "Kimberly was having an incestual relationship with Newkirk, her maternal uncle. He also mentioned that Billy is her grandfather."
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 investigation into the child's death. The second article states: "Kimberly Shepperd, 28, is facing charges of incest, concealing the birth of an infant and abuse of a corpse; Allen Newkirk, 62, is being charged with incest; Billy Shepperd, 82, faces one count of abuse of a corpse." While none of the charges are specifically homicide or manslaughter, the charges of concealing the birth of an infant and abuse of a corpse are directly tied to the circumstances of the baby's death. Chief Hart explicitly connected these arrests to the year-long death investigation.
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 emerge from the text. The child was born as the product of an incestuous relationship between the mother, Kimberly Shepperd (28), and her maternal uncle, Allen Newkirk (62), as confirmed by DNA testing. The mother's grandfather, Billy Shepperd (82), was also charged with abuse of a corpse, indicating he may have been involved in concealing the baby's body or remains. The DNA analysis took nine months to complete through the Kentucky State Police Crime Lab, contributing to a year-long investigation timeline. Additionally, on the day before the police press conference revealing the arrests, a new family unknowingly moved into the formerly vacant home where the baby was found and stated they were told it was too late to back out of the deal. Chief Hart described this as "one of the more disturbing" cases in his 30-year career.
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