In the quiet community of Sassafras, Kentucky, the night of June 18, 2020, was shattered by the sound of gunfire, leading to a tragic end for a local woman. Jeannie Takesha 'Kush' Vanzant, a 39-year-old female from Leatherwood, was found deceased inside a residence on Yellow Creek Road in the early hours of the following morning. Her life was cut short by apparent gunshot wounds.
Kentucky State Police from Post 13 in Hazard were dispatched to the scene late Thursday night following
reports of gunshots. Upon their arrival, the situation escalated as more gunfire was heard from within a home, prompting the call for additional troopers and the specialized Special Response Team to secure the area. What unfolded was a lengthy barricade situation that lasted through the night.
As the sun rose on the morning of June 19, the standoff came to an end when 58-year-old Jeffery Skiles of Sassafras exited the residence and was taken into custody without further incident. It was upon entering the home that law enforcement made the grim discovery of Jeannie Vanzant's body; she was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:43 a.m.
In the aftermath of the standoff, Jeffery Skiles, identified as Vanzant's boyfriend, was arrested and faced serious charges. He was charged with Murder in a case of domestic violence and Wanton Endangerment in the first degree, with the possibility of additional charges pending. Skiles was subsequently lodged in the Kentucky River Regional Jail as the investigation, led by a Kentucky State Police detective, continued into the violent death of Jeannie Vanzant.
