Kevin L. Humphrey Jr.

Known to his loved ones as "King," Kevin L. Humphrey Jr. was remembered as the life of every room he entered. A 32-year-old Black male born in Muncie, Indiana, Kevin was described as a faithful and humorous father, son, brother, and friend, known for his charm, infectious smile, and loyalty. His family recalled his admirable storytelling, his generosity, and his identity as a caregiver who never let anyone leave his presence empty-handed. A "jack of all trades," Kevin was the owner of a local business, Paragon Shipping 765. He was a father to seven children and three stepchildren who were left to cherish his memory. His loved ones said that to know him was to truly love him, and that he was a light in a world full of darkness.

The light that Kevin Humphrey brought to his family and friends was extinguished in a tragic and violent incident in the fall of 2023. On the afternoon of Friday, November 3, emergency responders were called to a house in the 500 block of South Rambler Road in a westside Muncie neighborhood. A 911 caller reported going to the home to check on a female resident whom no one had been able to contact, only to find her deceased in the attached garage. When Muncie Police Department officers arrived at the scene around 3:35 p.m., they confirmed the discovery and found two deceased adult men inside the residence as well.

The three individuals were identified as Kevin L. Humphrey Jr., 45-year-old Sarah R. Barnes, and her 76-year-old father, Douglas L. Starr. Initial reports from the Delaware County Coroner confirmed all three had died from gunshot wounds. Investigators noted there were no signs of forced entry into the home and assured the public that there was no active threat to the community, which suggested the event was contained within the residence. The Muncie Police Department’s detective division began an in-depth investigation, awaiting forensic lab results to make a final determination.

In the weeks following the deaths, it emerged that Sarah Barnes had been a defendant in a federal criminal case. She had been charged in November 2022 with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, specifically methamphetamine and fentanyl. According to court documents, Barnes had pleaded guilty on October 18, 2023, just weeks before her death, and was awaiting sentencing. A U.S. Department of Justice official stated that the federal charges against her would be dropped due to her death but could not comment on whether the other individuals were involved in any federal matter.

The investigation culminated in an official ruling by the Delaware County Coroner, Gavin Greene, in January 2024. After autopsies and toxicological analysis, the coroner’s office declared the incident a murder-suicide. The final report concluded that Sarah Barnes and Douglas Starr both died by homicide from multiple gunshot wounds. Kevin Humphrey’s death was ruled a suicide from a single gunshot wound to the head. The toxicology report also found that both Humphrey and Barnes had amphetamine and methamphetamine in their systems at the time of their deaths.

As of January 2024, the Muncie Police Department’s investigation was still considered ongoing, even with the coroner's official ruling clarifying the sequence of events. The case officially stands as a murder-suicide, with Kevin Humphrey identified as the primary suspect in the deaths of Sarah Barnes and Douglas Starr before taking his own life. Authorities have asked anyone with additional information regarding the case to contact the Muncie Police Department detective division at 765-747-4867 or police dispatchers at 765-747-4838.