In a heart-wrenching turn of events, 12-year-old Stacia Leigh Collins, a female from Van Lear, Kentucky, was found deceased on August 11, 2022. The young girl, a student at Porter Elementary School, was discovered in a remote area near Millers Creek at Boone's Camp, down a seldom-traveled dirt and gravel road. An autopsy later confirmed that she had died from a gunshot wound.
The investigation into her disappearance and death began earlier that day when Johnson County deputies responded
to a call about an assault in the Van Lear community. Upon their arrival, they discovered Stacia's father, 47-year-old Stacy Collins, with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. As he was being transported for medical treatment, it was discovered that Stacia was missing, prompting a search of the area where her father was found. With the help of the public, her body was located a short time later.
The investigation quickly focused on Stacy Collins as the primary suspect in his daughter's death. It was revealed that Stacia's mother and Stacy were estranged. The day before her death, her father had asked to keep her overnight and take her to school for her first day of the school year. The following morning, he sent his estranged wife a picture of Stacia ready for school, followed by a chilling text message asking if she wanted to speak to her daughter 'one last time.'
Following his release from the hospital, Stacy Collins was arrested and charged with the murder of his daughter. A grand jury later indicted him on charges of murder and kidnapping. He initially pleaded not guilty but later reached a plea agreement. Stacy Collins was sentenced to two life sentences, to be served concurrently, with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
