In the early hours of a Thursday morning in Cumberland, Kentucky, a 911 call pierced the quiet, forever altering the lives of many. On March 23, 2023, authorities received a call from Michael Cornett, who stated he had shot his girlfriend during a domestic dispute. When Kentucky State Police troopers arrived at the residence on School Road, they found 31-year-old Stacy Doranda Houser unresponsive in a bedroom, suffering from a gunshot wound.
The Harlan County Coroner pronounced her dead at the scene.
Stacy, a White female born on May 29, 1991, in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, was remembered for her vibrant personality and love for life. A graduate of Harlan County High School, she had been active in softball and the Beta Club. She went on to earn an associate's degree from Southeast Community and Technical College. Friends and family recalled her as someone who enjoyed traveling, listening to music, and, most of all, creating memories with her son and parents. Her life, described as one lived with intention and an unapologetic style, was tragically cut short.
In the wake of the discovery, the investigation quickly focused on the man who made the initial call. Michael Cornett, 46, was arrested at the scene and subsequently charged with murder. He was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center as the community began to mourn the loss of a young mother. An autopsy was scheduled to be performed by the Kentucky State Medical Examiner's Office to officially determine the cause of death as the legal process against Cornett commenced.
