Murder in Lewisport
On Sunday night, April 2nd, at around 8 p.m., Dianna Boyd McKinney (57), from Lewisport, shot Roger Benningfield, Jr. (41). He received a gunshot wound to his head, was in critical condition, and was taken to Owensboro Regional Health Hospital, where he later died.
Hancock County Sheriff Dale Bozarth said that a call came in around 8 p.m. Sunday night, and the caller had stated there was a “self-inflicted gunshot wound” on Curtis Street in Lewisport. “When I arrived, “Bozarth said, “there was a male subject (Benningfield) laying on the floor, still breathing, with a weapon close by, and a female (McKinney) in there that stated he had shot himself.
She stated that he shot himself right in front of her. EMTs started in the door and said, ‘He still has the weapon.’ I removed the weapon, and then they loaded him up into the ambulance. Lewisport Police Chief Greg Linn asked me to put some crime scene tape up. We secured the scene, and he made some phone calls.”
Kentucky State Police, Post 16 (KSP-Henderson) received the call at 8:50 p.m. Sunday night, from the Lewisport Police Department, asking for their assistance. KSP detectives arrived and started processing the scene, at 195 Curtis Street, Lot #23 in Lewisport.
Officer D. Ammon, the arresting officer with KSP Post 16, reported that after speaking to responding officers and processing the scene, an interview was conducted with McKinney. During the interview, Ammon said she admitted to shooting Benningfield herself, and staged it to look like a suicide. The Uniform Citation includes that alcohol was involved.
McKinney was arrested at 12:46 a.m., on April 3rd, and charged with Assault, First Degree, and Tampering With Physical Evidence. At the time of her arrest, Benningfield was still in critical condition and not yet deceased, therefore charges may be enhanced. The investigation is still on-going.
She is being detained at Breckenridge County Detention Center. The arraignment has been set for Thursday, April 6th, at 9 a.m., via Zoom. District Judge Daniel Boling will preside.
