In a tragic turn of events on January 19, 2021, in Morgantown, Kentucky, 30-year-old Angela R. Carey, a female, was found deceased in her home on Lonnie Snodgrass Road. Her life was cut short in a violent encounter that also claimed the lives of her parents, Charles W. McGranahan, 79, and Lupe V. McGranahan, 63. The gruesome discovery was made after law enforcement responded to a shooting complaint that morning. Angela's body was located in the front doorway of the residence, while her parents were found further inside the home, all having sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
The sole suspect in this triple homicide was Angela's estranged husband, Joseph Carey, who was 32 years old at the time. He was found at the property and taken into custody by the Kentucky State Police. During questioning, Joseph Carey confessed to the killings. The investigation revealed that the couple was in the process of a divorce, with Joseph having been served papers the month prior. He initially cited his motive as being upset about his wife taking their children, but later claimed he acted in self-defense. He alleged that during a conversation with Angela in the doorway, he overheard his mother-in-law tell her husband to get a shotgun, causing him to panic.
The investigation uncovered that approximately 30 rounds had been fired from a 9mm handgun, which was later recovered from Joseph Carey's vehicle. An unloaded shotgun was found near Charles McGranahan's body. The couple's three children, who were present in the home at the time of the incident, were unharmed. In the subsequent legal proceedings, Joseph Carey was indicted on three counts of murder, among other charges. The Butler County Commonwealth's Attorney announced the intent to seek the death penalty, citing the violent nature of the crime and the multiple deaths involved.
Ultimately, Joseph Carey was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Further investigation into his background also led to an indictment on unrelated charges of first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree sodomy involving a minor.
