On a late summer evening in Louisville, Kentucky, the life of 37-year-old Michael Felker was tragically cut short. The male victim, known for his passion for music and his talent with the trumpet which he had played since his high school marching band days, was fatally shot on August 31, 2014. Beyond his musical pursuits, Felker was a man who enjoyed the simple pleasures of life, such as playing golf and woodworking. His unexpected death left a profound void in the lives of his family and friends, who remembered him as a generous and talented individual.
The circumstances surrounding Felker's death unfolded within the confines of his mother's home in Pleasure Ridge Park. An argument, reportedly stemming from a financial dispute involving a credit card, escalated with fatal consequences. Present in the house at the time were his mother, Judy Felker, and her fiancé, 72-year-old George Geary. It was during this heated exchange that a single gunshot ended Michael Felker's life. He was rushed to University Hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal. The immediate aftermath was filled with confusion and grief, as a 911 call made by his mother described the incident as an accidental shooting.
In the wake of the shooting, George Geary was arrested and charged with murder. He admitted to investigators that he had retrieved his handgun during the argument with his stepson, but maintained that the weapon discharged accidentally and that he had no intention of shooting him. The case then proceeded through the legal system, a journey that would last for nearly two years. For Felker's family, particularly his sister, the slow pace of justice was agonizing as they grappled with the loss of a beloved brother.
Ultimately, the legal proceedings concluded not with a murder trial, but with a plea agreement. George Geary pleaded guilty to the lesser charges of reckless homicide and wanton endangerment. This resolution, reached in the spring of 2016, resulted in a sentence of 10 years in prison for the death of Michael Felker. The plea deal also included the possibility of shock probation, a potential for a shortened period of incarceration. The conclusion of the court case brought a formal end to the legal chapter of this tragic story, though the personal loss for those who knew and loved Michael Felker remains.
