Kirsten A. Tabor, a 29-year-old White/Caucasian female from Bennington, Nebraska, passed away on September 30, 2022. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, on January 30, 1993, she was a beloved mother, wife, and community member. Kirsten grew up in Bennington, attending local schools and graduating in 2011. She was known for her energetic work ethic, starting her first job at 16, and was a cherished employee at Nate's Stumble Inn for seven years. In 2022, she became a member of the Bennington Chamber of Commerce Executive Board. She was married to Andrew Tabor and was a devoted mother to their three children, Liam James, Noah Joseph, and Lily May.
The circumstances of Kirsten's death shocked the community. In the early morning hours of September 30, 2022, law enforcement responded to a call regarding a shooting at a residence in Bennington. Upon arrival, officers from the Bennington Police Department and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office discovered the bodies of Kirsten Tabor and a man identified as 44-year-old Richard Cole, also of Bennington. Both had sustained fatal gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene.
The ensuing investigation by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office concluded that the incident was an apparent murder-suicide. It is believed that Richard Cole forcibly entered the home where Kirsten was, and following a disturbance, he shot her before turning the weapon on himself. As the primary suspect in Kirsten's murder, Richard Cole, is deceased, the case is considered solved. The authorities encouraged anyone with additional information to contact their tip line.
