In August of 2020, in Louisville, Kentucky, a bright and happy three-year-old girl named Trinity Randolph was playing in her 'Frozen' dollhouse when her life was tragically cut short. On August 14th, she and her 21-year-old father, Brandon Waddles, were fatally shot inside their home in the Jacobs neighborhood. Waddles was pronounced dead at the scene, while Trinity was rushed to a local children's hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.
Trinity was described by her family as a joyful child who was excited about becoming a big sister.
The investigation into the double homicide led Louisville Metro Police to two suspects. The first arrest was that of 28-year-old Evan Ross on August 19, 2020. He was charged with two counts of facilitation to commit murder after surveillance footage near the scene of the crime captured a vehicle registered to him being used in the commission of the murders. During questioning, Ross admitted to his involvement.
A second suspect, Kevon Lawless, was arrested on August 25, 2020, and identified by police as the shooter. Lawless was charged with two counts of murder, first-degree burglary, and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. Investigators believed that Lawless and Waddles knew each other.
In September 2022, a Jefferson County jury found Kevon Lawless guilty on two counts of murder and one count of burglary. The jury recommended a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. However, in October 2025, the Kentucky Supreme Court overturned Lawless's conviction. The court ruled that a mistrial should have been declared after a juror became aware that a witness had perjured themselves during the trial and was subsequently arrested. The case has been sent back to the Jefferson Circuit Court for a possible retrial.
