A Kentucky couple, Shawn Durbin, 39, and Nancy Durbin, 36, are facing murder charges in connection with the death of their neighbor. The Durbins are currently held in Hardin County jail, with Shawn Durbin facing additional charges of resisting arrest and third-degree assault on a police officer.
The incident took place on November 13 at the couple’s apartment in the Sugar Mill Apartments, Elizabethtown. The victim, 62-year-old Bobby Pennington, was also at the Durbin’s apartment, although the circumstances surrounding his visit remain uncertain.
Reports indicate that a disagreement erupted between the Durbins and Pennington, which escalated to a point where the couple is alleged to have thrown Pennington off their second-floor balcony. The balcony, enclosed by a metal railing, was approximately 12 feet above the ground, according to the Elizabethtown Police Department.
Police were called to the scene after reports of a man suffering from cardiac arrest at the apartment complex located on the 100 block of East Memorial Drive. Upon their arrival, they found a woman performing CPR on Pennington. The woman claimed to have seen the Durbins throwing Pennington from the balcony.
Pennington was rushed to the Baptist Health hospital. Medical examinations revealed that he had sustained a broken neck and ribs. Initially, the Durbins were arrested and charged with assault. However, following Pennington’s death, the charges were upgraded to murder.
Elizabethtown Police Department spokesman Chris Denham expressed his dismay at the incident, stating that Pennington did not provoke the attack. Denham also criticized the Durbins for denying any involvement in Pennington’s death, stating that their denial reflected poorly on their character. Reports suggest that Pennington was a quiet individual who did not cause trouble.
The Durbins are currently being held at the Hardin County Detention Center and are scheduled to appear in court next month.