A quiet neighborhood in Daphne, Alabama, is mourning the loss of a family of four after deputies discovered them deceased inside their home. Authorities have confirmed the case as a murder-suicide, sending shockwaves through the close-knit community. The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies conducted a welfare check at the home on Sable Court during the early morning of August 14, 2025.
Inside, they found 44-year-old Kenneth O’Neil Smith Jr., his wife, 41-year-old Larrica Gaines Smith, and their two children, 15-year-old Khristian and 11-year-old Kinsley. Investigators recovered a handgun at the scene and confirmed that Kenneth was responsible. Neighbors described the Smiths as a kind and loving family. “Their kids were so sweet. They even babysat my daughter,” said one resident, who remembered the family celebrating a wedding anniversary just weeks earlier. Another neighbor expressed disbelief, saying, “You’d never think something like this would happen to them.” Tributes have poured in for Larrica, remembered as gentle and dedicated. Former colleagues at EXIT Realty Lyon in Fairhope recalled her as a thoughtful person with great potential in real estate. Friends, including her high school best friend, shared heartfelt posts online, struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.
Local schools confirmed that both children were enrolled in Daphne schools, where counselors and crisis response teams are offering support to classmates and staff.
Sheriff Anthony Lowery extended condolences to the community, acknowledging the difficulty of the case and urging residents to lean on available support services as they grieve. If you or someone you know is struggling, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free, confidential help available 24/7.
