In the summer of 2015, a life was tragically cut short in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. Travis Lyn Steiger, a 26-year-old male, was found deceased on July 10 in the parking lot of a Super 8 motel. The cause of his untimely death was a single gunshot wound. A graduate of North Bullitt High School, he was remembered by loved ones as a loving and caring individual who had a great enthusiasm for life and sports, particularly as an avid University of Kentucky fan.
The investigation into the
shooting quickly focused on a suspect, Kevin Ward of Louisville. Authorities publicly identified Ward as the individual wanted for murder and cautioned that he should be considered armed and dangerous. Several days after the incident, Ward was apprehended by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and Indiana State Police at a residence near Charlestown, Indiana. He was subsequently extradited back to Bullitt County to face the murder charge. In connection with the case, an 18-year-old woman, Kennedy Ridenour, was also arrested and charged with hindering apprehension.
Despite the initial charges and arrest, the legal proceedings that followed took an unexpected turn. In September of the following year, a jury found Kevin Ward not guilty of the murder of Travis Steiger. The trial concluded with his acquittal, leaving the circumstances surrounding Steiger's death officially unresolved in the eyes of the law. The case remains a painful memory for the family and friends of Travis Steiger, who was survived by his parents, sister, and other loving relatives.
