A loving mother and grandmother from Drakesboro, Kentucky, Amber Celestine Rice was a homemaker who cherished her family and her faith. The 39-year-old was a member of the Chosen for Change Church. Born in Greenville, Kentucky, she was a beloved wife to Lucas Rice, a mother to her three children, Malachi Boyd, Desmond Boyd, and Nova DeArmond, and a doting grandmother to Navy and Maggie Mohon. She is also survived by her parents, Willard and Debbie DeArmond, and her sister, Kim Moore.
Friends remembered her as a great person and a beautiful soul who left a lasting impression on everyone she met.
On the evening of Sunday, October 4, 2026, Amber’s life was cut short in a residence on Wild Horse Lane, in a rural area between the small Kentucky towns of Bremen and Central City. Kentucky State Police were called to the home to investigate and discovered Amber deceased inside. She had been shot and was found under a blanket. A witness who was at the home with Amber and a man named Skylar Shanks told investigators they heard a single gunshot. Immediately after, Shanks ran from the room, saying, “we have to get out of here,” before fleeing the house.
The investigation quickly led police to a nearby home on KY-70. Responding troopers had received a report of a man with what appeared to be blood on his clothes near a shed on the property. While searching the area, police found the suspect, 33-year-old Skylar Shanks, hiding under a pool deck. Shanks attempted to run from the troopers, but he was quickly apprehended after being tased. Authorities reported that he refused to answer questions following his arrest.
Kentucky State Police secured a search warrant for the shed where Shanks was seen. Inside, they discovered bloody clothes and a quantity of methamphetamine. Following his arrest, Shanks was lodged in the Muhlenberg County Detention Center. He was charged with a long list of offenses, including murder-domestic violence, fleeing or evading police, resisting arrest, tampering with physical evidence, trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine), and drug possession. His arraignment was scheduled for October 12.
The violent death in the normally quiet, close-knit community shocked local residents. One Central City resident described the incident as a "very shocking" and "tragic" event, noting that a murder was highly unusual for Muhlenberg County. The community mourned with Amber's family, who were left heartbroken by the sudden and violent loss.
A memorial service for Amber was held on Monday, October 12, 2026, at Duvall’s Chapel General Baptist Church in Greenville. In lieu of flowers, her family requested that donations be made to a memorial fund established in her name at Tucker Funeral Home. As of October 2026, the case against Skylar Shanks was proceeding through the Muhlenberg County court system.
