Dateline: The Betrayal of Kirby Carpenter - Timeline of the horrifying 2022 murder case

Dateline: The Betrayal of Kirby Carpenter revisits the shocking murder of a 36-year-old self-made businessman named Kirby Carpenter, who was found shot to death outside his home near the carport in Tippah County, Mississippi. According to Court TV, the former owner of White Oak Whitetail Deer Farm, Jeffrey Spence, and his wife Karen and daughter Caitlin were arrested and charged with capital murder for conspiring to rob and kill Kirby. Prosecutors revealed that Kirby was in a relationship with Caitlin and the young couple shared a baby together.

Jeffrey first faced trial in September 2025 for the murder of Kirby, but that case ended in a mistrial because the jury was split six to six and was unable to agree on a verdict. On April 17, 2025, Caitlin was released from jail on a $10,000 professional bond after pleading guilty to accessory after the fact under a plea deal requiring her to testify against her parents.

In 2026, Jeffrey was found guilty of first-degree murder, though the jury acquitted him of capital murder and manslaughter charges. Judge John Kelly Luther imposed the required life sentence right after the jury announced its decision.

Continue reading more about The Betrayal of Kirby Carpenter.

The Betrayal of Kirby Carpenter: Timeline of the horrifying 2022 murder case

November 30, 2022

The Betrayal of Kirby Carpenter reveals that Kirby sent a text to Caitlin at 6:30 p.m. and told her that he was passing Geno's Tire Store in Booneville while he was on his way home. Shortly afterwards, he stopped at Kroger to buy groceries. Between 6:45 and 7:00 p.m., Kirby was believed to have arrived home, and at 7:15 p.m. surveillance footage captured Caitlin at Booneville Walmart with her baby.

She was spotted inside the store and then sitting in her car for about 45 minutes. During that time, she texted Kirby again and mentioned that she had run into a 'crazy dog lady' from Tractor Supply and asked if he wanted Chinese food, but she never received a reply.

Later that night, Caitlin told her friend Bailey, who was watching the baby, that she had not seen Kirby at all that day. However, MBI investigator Tammy Hall's interview revealed that Caitlin claimed Kirby had been asleep when she left and added that the entire household had been sick with the flu.

December 1-2, 2022

On December 1, Kirby went missing, and after that, his mother, Mattie Jane Jones, became worried. The following day, Kirby was discovered shot to death outside his home. Caitlin called 911 while reportedly speaking with Mattie, though dispatchers struggled to understand her.

Investigator Chris McCallister arrived by 1:30 p.m. and found Kirby's body near the carport, partially hidden beneath a curtain and a truck toolbox, with only his boots and possibly one hand visible. They spotted blood in the carport along with drag marks leading to the body.

McCallister's team found that Kirby’s truck was parked in the driveway with groceries inside, its doors locked, and windows closed. Later, his key fob was found in his pocket, while other keys were discovered on the ground near a knocked‑over trash can.

Caitlin claimed she found Kirby’s body while returning from checking a deer stand. However, investigators later questioned her account because the route was muddy and difficult to cross with a baby. They concluded that Kirby was likely murdered on or around November 30, shortly after his grocery trip.

November 30, 2023

The Betrayal of Kirby Carpenter shows that the U.S. Marshals arrested Caitlin in Brookville, and on the same day, her parents, Jeffrey and Karen, were also taken into custody in Smyth County, Virginia.

December 1, 2023

Caitlin waived her extradition rights during a hearing where she was represented by Attorney Scott Allen and where she agreed to be surrendered to Mississippi to face capital murder charges.

April 17, 2025

The Betrayal of Kirby Carpenter reveals that Caitlin entered a guilty plea to accessory after the fact and agreed to testify against her parents. She was released on a $10,000 bond with electronic monitoring and strict travel restrictions.

June 2025

Jeffrey and Karen had their trial moved to another location after Circuit Judge Kelly Luther approved a request to change the venue because of strong media coverage before the trial.