Jury Selection Begins in Second Capital Murder Trial

Jury selection commenced on March 26, 2026, for the second capital murder trial of Jeffrey Spence, 68, accused of killing his daughter's boyfriend in November 2022. His initial trial in September 2025 resulted in a mistrial when a Pontotoc County jury was deadlocked 6-6 after deliberating for over four hours.

The court granted a change of venue for the retrial, which is now taking place at the Calhoun County Courthouse in Pittsboro. Spence is accused of fatally shooting businessman Kirby Carpenter, 36, with a single shotgun blast in rural Tippah County. Carpenter's body was discovered two days later.

Both of Spence's daughters and his wife were also arrested in November 2023 on capital murder and other charges. Caitlin Spence pleaded guilty in April 2025 to being an accessory after the fact and agreed to testify against her father. Her mother, Karen Spence, accepted a plea deal in March 2025 for a related charge, receiving a suspended sentence.