In the early morning hours of November 1, 2015, the life of 37-year-old Ronnie Kelly, a White male, was cut short in his Richmond, Kentucky, apartment. Police discovered Kelly deceased from an apparent gunshot wound to the head, turning a quiet residence on Turpin Drive into a crime scene. The investigation that followed quickly led to the apprehension of a mother and her son.
Authorities arrested 28-year-old Adrian Collins and his 61-year-old mother, Melissa Collins, in connection with
Kelly's death. Adrian Collins faced the most severe charges of murder and tampering with physical evidence. His mother, Melissa, was charged with tampering with physical evidence. An arrest citation indicated that Melissa Collins informed law enforcement that her son, Adrian, had used a gun to shoot the victim in the head. Following their arrests, both were held at the Madison County Detention Center.
During the investigation, it was reported that Adrian and his mother had attempted to conceal a firearm allegedly used in the crime. The weapon was purportedly hidden in a plastic bag within Melissa Collins' closet. While the initial news reports detailed the arrests and the charges laid against the mother and son, the relationship between them and Ronnie Kelly was not publicly disclosed at the time. Information regarding the motive for the shooting, the subsequent legal proceedings, including trial dates, and the final verdicts and sentences for Adrian and Melissa Collins were not available in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
