UPDATE: Kentucky State Police Conducts Death Investigation in Owsley County

***UPDATE***

BOONEVILLE, Ky. (February 10, 2026) – Following a year-long investigation, two individuals were arrested Feb. 9, 2026, after indictments were issued by the Owsley County Grand Jury on Thursday, January 22, 2026.

Deann Bennett, 27, of Booneville, was taken into custody and charged with reckless homicide, tampering with physical evidence, abuse of a corpse, and concealing the birth of an infant. Charles Bennett, 32, of Booneville was also arrested and charged with reckless homicide and concealing the birth of an infant. Both are lodged in the Three Forks Regional Jail.

The investigation began on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, when Kentucky State Police Post 7 in Richmond received a 911 call just before 10:30 a.m. about a female who had been transported to a local hospital after reporting a possible miscarriage. While at the hospital, the couple informed authorities that the infant remained at their residence on Lewis Lane in Booneville.

Troopers and detectives responded to the residence, where they located an unresponsive infant over an embankment outside the home. Owsley County Coroner Rob Morgan pronounced the infant deceased at the scene. The infant was subsequently transported to the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort for an autopsy.

The investigation was led by KSP Post 7 Detective Anthony Bowling, with assistance from Kentucky State Police personnel and the Owsley County Coroner’s Office

Original News Release below: 

BOONEVILLE, Ky. (November 29, 2024) – On Friday, November 29, 2024, just before 10:30 A.M, Kentucky State Police, Post 7, Richmond, received a 911 call in reference to a female who had been transported to a local hospital reporting a possible miscarriage. While at the hospital, the couple advised the infant was still at the residence on Lewis Lane in Booneville. Troopers, along with detectives responded to the residence.

During the preliminary investigation Troopers and Detectives located an unresponsive infant over an embankment outside of the residence. The Owsley County Coroner, Rob Morgan pronounced the infant deceased and was transported to the Medial Examiners Office in Frankfort for an autopsy.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by KSP Post 7 Detective Anthony Bowling, with assistance from KSP personnel, and the Owsley County Coroner.

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