In the fall of 2020, the life of 39-year-old Carmelita Lashaun Wright was tragically cut short in what authorities have described as a murder-suicide. On the evening of October 5th, Franklin County deputies were called to a home in Frankfort, Kentucky, where they discovered the bodies of Wright and 43-year-old Lorenzo Andrew Simpson. Investigators determined that Simpson had fatally shot Wright before turning the gun on himself.
The couple’s young daughter was present in the home at the time of the incident but was physically unharmed.
Prior to the fatal event, law enforcement had been called to the couple's residence on at least two occasions in the preceding months for domestic disturbances. According to reports from the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, one of these instances involved Wright reporting that Simpson had been drinking heavily and had hit her in the head with a cellphone. In another incident, it was reported that Simpson had pushed both Wright and their child. However, no arrests were made during these prior calls. Following one of the disturbances, Wright was advised on how to obtain an emergency protection order, but court officials indicated she had not pursued one.
The investigation into the deaths of Wright and Simpson remains ongoing as authorities work to piece together the circumstances that led to the tragedy. The Franklin County Sheriff, Chris Quire, indicated that they believe alcohol may have been a contributing factor on the part of Simpson. Autopsy and toxicology results were pending to provide further clarity. In the wake of the devastating event, the couple's daughter was placed in the care of other family members.
