A quiet Alabama neighborhood is in shock after deputies discovered a family of four dead inside their Daphne home in what investigators confirmed was a murder-suicide. Deputies forced entry after a concerned relative requested a welfare check on 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, all with fatal gunshot wounds. A handgun believed to have been used was recovered at the scene.

Sheriff Anthony Lowery described the tragedy as “as tragic as it comes,” adding that investigators remained on site for hours gathering evidence. Neighbors expressed disbelief, describing the Smiths as a sweet and loving family who had recently celebrated their wedding anniversary. “Their kids were so sweet. They babysat my daughter. Just good people,” one resident recalled, struggling to process the loss.

Friends and colleagues remembered Larrica as a kind and gentle woman, admired for her quiet warmth. Her best friend, LaChandra Jackson, shared an emotional post online mourning the sudden loss, while Sue Lyon, her former employer, said she couldn’t believe something so devastating could happen. Both children were active in local schools, where crisis teams and counselors were made available to help classmates cope.

Sheriff Lowery acknowledged the pain of the investigation, saying answers may never come since there are no suspects to interview. The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office extended condolences to the community and confirmed chaplains are available for support. As Daphne mourns, friends, neighbors, and officials continue to rally together in grief, holding vigils and leaving memorials outside the Smiths’ home.