Investigators remain puzzled about the reasons behind the apparent murder-suicide of Dennis and Patricia Blackburn... Dennis Blackburn was a retired captain with the Lexington Fire Department, and Pat Blackburn worked as a surgical technician at Central Baptist Hospital... “We’ve got a ton of interviews to conduct and try to put the pieces together,” Mercer County Chief Deputy Scott Elder said ... “There was no sign of any struggle, and everybody that I’ve talked to so far said there were no domestic issues. It’s just very disturbing”... [Their son] Jonathan Blackburn says, "I don't know what happened, but my dad loved my mom more than anything in the world and he would never hurt for anything"... The visitation will be at the Ransdale Funeral Home in Harrodsburg on Sunday from 5:00 to 8:00pm. The funeral will be Monday at 1:00pm at the Harrodsburg Christian Church...POLICE INVESTIGATE COUPLE'S DEATHS AS MURDER-SUICIDE
WLKY
October 21, 2010
[Excerpts] Police are investigating the deaths of a Mercer County couple as a murder-suicide after their bodies were found in their home Wednesday. The couple's son went to check on them after getting a call from Central Baptist Hospital when his mother didn't show up for work. Patricia Blackburn suffered stab and gunshot wounds; her husband, Dennis, gun shot wounds. Dennis Blackburn is a former Lexington fire captain... [Full article here]
MERCER COUNTY MURDER-SUICIDEWTVQ
Cate Slattery
20 October 2010
[Excerpts] The discovery of a Mercer County husband and wife found dead inside their home is sending shock waves from Harrodsburg to Lexington and beyond tonight According to deputies a family member came to check on 55-year-old Dennis Blackburn and his wife Pat just before 10 am Wednesday and that's when the couple was found... Sheriff’s deputies say it appears Dennis shot and stabbed his wife and then turned the gun on himself. Family and friends spent the day gathered outside the home and people who knew the couple say they are in disbelief. “I just couldn't believe it to be honest with you I’m in total shock,” said neighbor lee Wright... They say the couple had a love for horses and family members tell ABC 36 the couple had been together since junior high school... Sheriff’s deputies still aren't sure what led up to today's tragedy. They say the case remains under investigation... [Full article here]
MERCER COUPLE FOUND DEAD IN APPARENT MURDER-SUICIDE
AMNews.com
By Todd Kleffman
October 21, 2010
[Excerpts] Investigators remain puzzled about the reasons behind the apparent murder-suicide of a Mercer County couple who were discovered dead Wednesday in their home on Votaw Road. Mercer County Coroner Sonny Ransdell identified the victims as Dennis and Patricia Blackburn, both 55. Pat Blackburn suffered stab wounds and a gunshot, and Dennis Blackburn was shot, Mercer Deputy Billy Whitenack said. “We’ve got a ton of interviews to conduct and try to put the pieces together,” Mercer County Chief Deputy Scott Elder said this morning. “There was no sign of any struggle, and everybody that I’ve talked to so far said there were no domestic issues. It’s just very disturbing”... Autopsies are being conducted today... Lee Wright, who lives across Votaw Road from the Blackburns, said he saw the couple working together with their horses over the weekend. Both were good, friendly neighbors who often rode horses together and did not appear to have any obvious turmoil between them... [Full article here]
RETIRED LEXINGTON FIRE CAPTAIN, WIFE DIE IN APPARENT MURDER-SUICIDE: Apparent murder-suicide shocks friends
Lexington Herald Leader
By Greg Kocher
Oct. 21, 2010
[Excerpts] ...Dennis Blackburn was employed by the Lexington fire department from 1983 until he retired as a captain in October 2007, said Battalion Chief Marshall Griggs.
Pat Blackburn worked as a surgical technician at Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, where she had been employed for 23 years... "Her co-workers are very upset, and our chaplains have been working with them today in grief counseling," said Central Baptist spokeswoman Ruth Ann Childers ... [Family friend Lisa] Goodrich, who knew the family through a 4-H horse and pony club, said the deaths come as a shock ... "They were the people that you'd go, 'I wish we could be like them.' They were good to have around, and it was fun to be with them. It's impossible to imagine what brought this to a head." Goodrich said the Blackburns were "wonderful, church-going, giving people"... The Blackburns owned seven or eight horses and were active in riding and establishing trails at Eagle's Nest, a horseback-riding area in Mercer County ... "They were always upbeat and encouraging and positive" ... [Full article here]
SON WANTS ANSWERS SURROUNDING PARENTS DEATH: Investigators call it a murder/suicide but the son of the man and woman found dead in their home want more answers.
WKYT
Dave Spencer
Oct 22, 2010
[Excerpts] Investigators call it a murder/suicide but the son of the man and woman found dead in their home want more answers. Everyone who we spoke with says the death of Dennis and Pat Blackburn doesn't make sense, including their son Jonathan Blackburn. Blackburn says, "I don't know what happened, but my dad loved my mom more than anything in the world and he would never hurt for anything"... Jonathan Blackburn says he hopes his brother can get over making such a terrible discovery. "He's holding up real well, I'm proud of him. I love him more than anything in the world and it's just me and him now," says Blackburn. Blackburn says he hasn't been contacted or questioned by investigators. "I hope that they would get in a little deeper than this. Our family is definitely torn... we're hurting." He says his parents, who've been together since grade school, never had any problems. He says they loved life, loved God, loved their family and friends. Jonathan says his parents both had careers devoted to serving the public. His mother Pat, worked as a surgical technician at Central Baptist Hospital. His father, Dennis, worked for the Lexington Fire Department for 24 years. He retired as a Captain... [Full article here]
PATRICIA C. BLACKBURN
Obituary
Published in Lexington Herald-Leader on October 23, 2010
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[Excerpts] Patricia C. Blackburn, 55, Harrodsburg, wife of Dennis Blackburn, died Wed, Oct 20, 2010 in Harrodsburg, KY. Born March 7, 1955 in Georgetown, KY, she was the daughter of Ann (Schreiner) Collinsworth and the late William Collinsworth. She was a surgical technician at Central Baptist Hospital for over 20 years and a member of the Bethel Baptist Church where she was a choir member and past youth leader. She was Past President of the Pinto Organization of Kentucky (POOKy), Member of Central Kentucky Back Country Horsemen, Kentucky Horse Council Volunteer, Boy Scouts of America; Local Board Member, active in 4H Club Horse Program and American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). Survivors include: two sons... her mother... two sisters... Funeral services will be 1pm Mon, Oct 25 at the Harrodsburg Christian Church by Lester Tirey and burial will be in the Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery, Harrodsburg. Visitation will be Sun, Oct 24 from 5-8pm at the Ransdell Funeral Chapel, Harrodsburg, KY... The past is known, the present is revealed, the future is full of hope. The family's loss is fathomless. Only God knows the content of one's heart and why events happen. Dennis and Pat lived heartily, loved richly and enjoyed each and every day together in the saddle... [LINK]
PATRICIA COLLINSWORTH BLACKBURN
Ransdell Funeral Chapel Obituary
Visitation: Sunday, October 24 from 5-8 pm
Funeral Service: 1:00 PM, Monday, October 25
Interment: Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery
[Excerpts] ...Memorial contributions may be sent to: Boy Scouts Troop #127, c/o Vance Smith, 1611 Mundays Landing Rd, Harrodsburg, KY 40330, --or Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen, c/o Mercer County Cooperative Extension Service, 1007 Lexington Road, Harrodsburg, Ky 40330 ... [LINK]
DENNIS BLACKBURNObituary
Published in Lexington Herald-Leader on October 23, 2010
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http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/kentucky/guestbook.aspx?n=dennis-blackburn&pid=146160142&cid=full
[Excerpts] Dennis Blackburn, 55, Harrodsburg, husband of Patricia Colinsworth Blackburn, died Wed, Oct 20, 2010 in Harrodsburg, KY. Born July 9, 1955 in Bethesda, MD, he was the son of Buford and Lil (Williamson) Blackburn. He served in the Navy and was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church. He was a retired Captain of the Lexington Fire Department after 24 years service... [LINK]
DENNIS BLACKBURN
Ransdell Funeral Chapel Obituary
Age: 55
Visitation: Sunday, October 24 from 5 - 8 PM at the Ransdell Funeral Chapel
Funeral Service: 1:00 PM, Monday, October 25 at the Harrodsburg Christian Church
Interment: Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery
[Excerpts] ...He was also a Scoutmaster and Eagle Scout, involved over forty years with Boy Scouts of America, Pinto Organization of Kentucky (POOKy), Vice President of Central Kentucky Back Country Horsemen and founding member of the Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen , Board Member and head of the Trail Consultation Group as a certified Trail Design and Construction Specialist for the Kentucky Horse Council, Chief of Operations for Kentucky Large Animal Rescue Team, Master Educator at Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, Fire Science and Rescue Degree Course Instructor for Bluegrass Community Technical College, Volunteer Fireman, Cornishville Fire Department, active in 4H Club Horse Program and American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), and an active horseback trail rider ... Funeral services will be 1:00 PM, Monday, October 25 at the Harrodsburg Christian Church by Lester Tirey and burial will be in the Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery, Harrodsburg. Visitation will be Sunday, October 24 from 5 - 8 PM at the Ransdell Funeral Chapel, Harrodsburg, KY. Memorial contributions may be sent to: Boy Scouts Troop #127... or Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen... [LINK]
[police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner violence (IPV) abuse law enforcement public safety fatality fatalities kentucky state cornishville harrodsburg mercer county Collinsworth]
I know this family and the circumstances surrounding this situation well. This was not a case of domestic violence. I recognize the reality of domestic violence, and I am aware of the fact that cases of domestic violence are more prevalent among law enforcement officials of various kinds. This case simply does not belong in that category. It was a horrible tragedy, but it was not domestic violence.
ReplyDeleteI could not agree more. I certainly hope the investigation was thorough - Where there's smoke, there's fire, and there is a lot of smoke surrounding this case. IF Dennis did such a horrible thing, there must have been a disasterous physical event that happened in his head. He spent his life saving people, animals in distress, and most of all, loving Pat. PLEASE, PLEASE get to the bottom of this!
ReplyDeleteHe abused her for years and he told her he would kill her mother if she told anyone. that's the bottom of it. He was a power hungry, evil man, who used the blue wall as a cover.
ReplyDeletewhy don't you put your name up there. Let the world know who is talking about my dad. Cause I promise you me and you will have words
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