In the fall of 2016, a domestic argument in a Corbin, Kentucky home escalated into a fatal encounter that ended the life of 37-year-old Stephen Pataki. A white male, Pataki was a local business owner, known for Keystone Locksmith and his involvement in the restaurant Brick Station 25. On the morning of October 13, 2016, inside their Seventh Street residence, a dispute between Pataki and his wife, Iulia Pataki, turned violent.
According to police reports, the argument culminated in
Stephen threatening to kill Iulia. Fearing for her life, Iulia retrieved a 9-millimeter semi-automatic handgun. She then shot her husband three times in the torso. Emergency services were called to the scene, and Stephen was transported by ambulance to a nearby football field, from where he was airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, he succumbed to his injuries the following day, on October 14, 2016.
The Corbin Police Department, with Detective Rust Hedrick leading the case, immediately began an investigation into the shooting. Iulia Pataki was interviewed by authorities and claimed that she had acted in self-defense. Based on initial statements and evidence gathered from the home, investigators characterized the incident as a domestic dispute that had taken a violent turn. An autopsy was scheduled to be performed in Knoxville.
The Commonwealth's Attorney, Alan Trimble, was brought in to review the case and determine if any criminal charges would be filed against Iulia Pataki. Authorities also began to look into whether there had been any prior reports of domestic disturbances at the couple's residence. At the time of the initial reports, no decision had been made regarding charges, and the investigation was ongoing. The incident also prompted a temporary lockdown of Corbin Independent Schools as a safety precaution.
