In the quiet town of Princeton, Kentucky, a distressing discovery unfolded on Sunday, January 28, 2024. Kelly Black, a 42-year-old White woman, was found deceased in her residence on Center Street after Princeton Police were called to perform a welfare check. The initial investigation indicated a homicide, and Kentucky State Police detectives who responded to the scene confirmed that she had died from a gunshot wound to the back of her head.
The investigation quickly focused on Kelly’s
husband, 42-year-old Byron Black, who had left the residence before law enforcement arrived. The situation grew more urgent when it was discovered that the couple's five-year-old daughter, Lela, was also missing and believed to be with her father. On Monday morning, authorities issued an Amber Alert, warning that Byron Black was potentially armed and dangerous. The alert described the 1996 Chevrolet Silverado he was thought to be driving.
A few hours after the alert was issued, Lela Black was found safe. A tip led investigators to the Stratton Inn in Princeton, where they located Byron Black's pickup truck. He was taken into custody without incident, and his daughter was recovered unharmed. Inside the truck, detectives discovered a handgun. The investigation revealed that Kelly had flown into the Nashville, Tennessee airport on Thursday, January 25, where security footage showed her leaving with her husband. Her luggage was later found still inside a vehicle at the home, along with blood and a shell casing.
Following his arrest, Byron Black was lodged in the Caldwell County Jail, facing charges of murder and abuse of a corpse, with his bond set at $1 million. In March 2024, a grand jury indicted him on both charges, and he entered a plea of not guilty.
The case proceeded to a jury trial. After deliberating for about four and a half hours, the jury found Byron Black guilty of murder and abuse of a corpse. In April 2026, Judge Jamus Redd sentenced him to 25 years in prison.
