LEBANON, PA – Katelynn Kearney, 32, has been arrested and charged with criminal homicide in connection with the stabbing death of her boyfriend, Dontay Maurice Hunter, 45. The shocking turn of events began when Kearney attempted to cover up the crime, but her actions quickly unraveled under the weight of police investigation.
The Murder and Alleged Cover-Up
Kearney and her mother, Joanne Kearney, 61, were initially charged with tampering with evidence after Hunter’s body was discovered in his apartment on Chestnut Street in Lebanon City, on the morning of October 4. Kearney had called 911, claiming to have found her boyfriend lying on his bed, unresponsive and covered in blood.
However, police became suspicious of Kearney’s calm demeanor during the call. District Attorney Pier Hess Graf described Kearney’s tone as “flat” with occasional incoherent mumbling. She made no mention of being involved in the victim’s death, and her first statements were inconsistent with the evidence discovered later.
Surveillance Footage and Contradictory Statements
Investigators quickly obtained surveillance footage from October 4, which revealed key details about the night of the murder. The footage showed Kearney and Hunter entering the apartment together around 8 p.m. that evening. After hearing a female voice shouting “Get off of me,” Kearney was seen leaving the apartment and heading to her mother’s apartment next door.
Shortly afterward, Kearney and her mother entered the apartment again. At 9:40 p.m., Kearney was seen leaving the apartment carrying a white plastic bag. When police later recovered the bag from a nearby dumpster, they found it contained bloody clothes and a knife—crucial evidence linking Kearney to the murder.
Changing Stories and Confession
Kearney initially denied any involvement in Hunter’s death, claiming she only argued with him before finding him dead the next morning. However, after more than an hour of questioning by detectives, Kearney admitted to stabbing Hunter twice during an argument. She tried to justify the attack by claiming self-defense, although she had no visible injuries.
Her story changed yet again after police reminded her of her earlier confession. In a reenactment of the incident, Kearney allegedly demonstrated the stabbing motions with the knife, saying that Hunter grabbed at her arms while she held the knife. She claimed that she accidentally stabbed him, but no self-defense claims were substantiated by evidence.
Domestic Violence History
In her later statements, Kearney referenced physical abuse in her relationship with Hunter, suggesting that this was a contributing factor to the stabbing. However, a background check revealed a battery conviction against Kearney from 2013, but no record of previous abuse claims against Hunter.
A Domestic Violence Tragedy
The murder occurred on the same day that the Lebanon County community was holding an event for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The irony of the situation was not lost on local authorities, as this incident underscored the message that domestic violence can happen to anyone, at any time.
“Domestic violence could happen at any time and to anyone,” the statement read, underscoring the tragic and unexpected nature of Kearney’s actions.
Call to Action
What do you think about this tragic case? Share your thoughts in the comments below and discuss the importance of addressing domestic violence and the consequences of such violent actions. How can communities better support victims of abuse before situations escalate to violence?
