On a March day in 2018, the life of 31-year-old Stephanie Brooke Steenbergen Davenport was cut tragically short in Corbin, Kentucky. She was found deceased behind a residence on North Florence Street, having suffered two gunshot wounds, one to her upper chest and another to her head.
Initially, the call to authorities suggested a possible suicide, but the responding Laurel County Sheriff's deputies found circumstances that pointed to a more sinister explanation.
Beneath Stephanie's body lay a. 38-caliber Rossi pistol, a firearm described as a family heirloom. At the scene was her husband of less than six months, 38-year-old Joshua Tate Davenport, who maintained that his wife had taken her own life.
However, as investigators delved deeper into the couple's life, a different story began to emerge. Friends and family of Stephanie revealed that the marriage had become strained, with allegations of drug use by Joshua creating a rift between them. It was suggested that Stephanie had been planning to leave her husband. On the day of her death, Joshua's mother, who was inside the nearby residence, reported hearing the gunshots that led to the grim discovery.
The investigation led to the arrest of Joshua Davenport on a charge of murder under the umbrella of domestic violence. The subsequent trial, which began in September 2019, brought the tumultuous nature of their brief marriage into public view. The prosecution presented a narrative of a deteriorating relationship, arguing that Joshua had murdered his wife. The defense countered with the claim of suicide, pointing to alleged methamphetamine use by Stephanie and feelings of worthlessness.
After hearing the evidence presented by both sides, the jury found Joshua Davenport guilty of murder and tampering with physical evidence. He was sentenced to a total of 40 years in prison, 35 years for the murder and an additional five years for the tampering charge, with the sentences to be served consecutively.
