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Millionaire Murder Mystery: Betrayal Unfolds
17 Oct
Summary
- Kirby Carpenter, a self-made millionaire, was found shot dead in his home.
- His girlfriend's father, Jeffrey Spence, was convicted of murder after a second trial.
- Caitlin Spence, Carpenter's girlfriend and mother of his child, received a suspended sentence.
A "Dateline" episode titled "The Betrayal of Kirby Carpenter" delves into the murder of a Mississippi millionaire. Kirby Carpenter, 36, was discovered shot outside his Tippah County residence on December 2, 2022, with authorities determining the murder occurred on November 30, 2022. Initially suspected as a robbery due to his work with precious metals, the investigation shifted to his inner circle.
Jeffrey Spence, the father of Carpenter's girlfriend, Caitlin Spence, was accused of fatally shooting Carpenter. Spence was tried twice for the crime. His first trial in 2025 resulted in a deadlocked jury, but he was convicted of first-degree murder on March 27, 2026, and received a life sentence.
Caitlin Spence, who is also the mother of Carpenter's child, reportedly made a deal with prosecutors, testifying that her father confessed. She was convicted of accessory to murder after the fact and received a five-year supervised probation. Her mother, Karen Spence, also faced charges and entered an Alford plea for grand larceny after the fact, receiving a suspended sentence.
