On the evening of June 30, 2024, authorities in Washington, Missouri, responded to a distress call at a residence located in the 1500 block of East 8th Street. Officers arrived at the home to investigate a reported shooting following a domestic disturbance. Inside the residence, law enforcement discovered the lifeless body of 31-year-old male Matthew M. Lackey, who had sustained a fatal gunshot wound.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, initiating a homicide investigation by the Washington Police Department.
The individual who placed the 911 call was identified as the victim's wife, Samantha N. Lackey. Upon the arrival of first responders, she was present at the scene and allegedly admitted to dispatchers and officers that she had shot her husband. According to investigators, the couple had been engaged in a heated argument prior to the shooting. Samantha Lackey reportedly told detectives that the altercation had escalated, claiming her husband had become physically aggressive, threatened her verbaly, and that she feared for her safety. She alleged that the dispute intensified after she returned home from work, involving arguments that continued into the evening hours.
During the subsequent interrogation, investigators noted inconsistencies in the suspect's account of the events. While Samantha Lackey claimed she had been assaulted and held at gunpoint, police stated that physical evidence did not fully align with her description of the struggle. For instance, she pointed to a mark on her face where she claimed to have been slapped, but officers reportedly observed no corresponding injury consistent with such a blow. Additionally, police noted that her narrative regarding the victim's possession of a firearm during the conflict changed during questioning. She initially claimed he held a weapon but later allegedly retracted that detail, admitting he was not holding a gun when she retrieved her own firearm and fired the single fatal shot.
Following the investigation, the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney charged Samantha N. Lackey with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the death of her husband. Authorities determined that the evidence did not support a claim of self-defense sufficient to preclude charges at that stage. She was subsequently processed and held at the Franklin County Adult Detention Center without bond as the legal proceedings commenced.
