On August 4, 2019, a tragic incident occurred in Liberty, West Virginia, resulting in the death of Kim Ann Blevins, a 47-year-old woman. The incident took place at the residence of Kim and her husband, Newton Blevins, located on Sulug Road in the Liberty area of Putnam County.
According to authorities, the events leading to Kim's death were rooted in a domestic dispute. The argument between Newton and Kim Blevins began late Friday evening and continued through the day on Saturday.
Putnam County Sheriff Steve Deweese stated that the verbal altercation was not an isolated incident, as the couple had a history of frequent domestic disputes, although this was the first time any shots had been reported.
On Sunday morning, the situation escalated when Newton Blevins shot his wife, Kim, while she was lying on the couch. Following the shooting, Newton Blevins went to the bedroom and inflicted a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his abdomen. The incident was reported to 911 by Kim's 29-year-old son around 6:30 a.m. Sunday.
Newton Blevins, who was 68 years old at the time of the incident, was taken to CAMC General in Charleston for treatment of his self-inflicted wound. He was under the supervision of a deputy posted at the hospital by Sheriff Deweese.
Newton Blevins was subsequently charged in connection with Kim's death. He pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in May 2021. On July 9, 2021, Blevins was sentenced to the maximum term of 15 years in prison for his crime. He will not be eligible for parole until after serving five years of his sentence.
The sentencing was handed down by Judge Phillip Stowers, marking the conclusion of the legal proceedings in this case. Newton Blevins's actions on that fateful Sunday morning resulted in the tragic loss of Kim Ann Blevins, highlighting the severe consequences of domestic violence and the importance of addressing such issues before they escalate to fatal outcomes.
