CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Hurricane man was in a fit of rage when he stabbed and killed the mother of his child Wednesday night before killing himself, police said Friday.
"It was a textbook crime of passion," according to Detective Larry Angell of the Hurricane Police Department.
At about 10 p.m. Wednesday, police went to Kelly's Cove, a Hurricane subdivision, to check on Katherine "Kate" Nicole Taylor, 33, and Christopher Wayne Kinder, 41.
Kinder apparently had called a relative and said the front door of the house was open, Hurricane police Chief Mike Mullins said. The relative then called police to check on the couple.
When police arrived, they found Taylor and Kinder dead. Taylor had multiple stab wounds and Kinder apparently had shot himself in the head with a 12-gauge shotgun.
"Having concluded the investigation, we feel comfortable in saying it was a murder-suicide," Angell said. "We know how it took place, we believe.
"Everybody has moments of sudden rage, issues -- that are contrary to being premeditated," he said. "There's nothing premeditated here."
The couple's 9-month-old baby was found in the house. Angell said Kinder had "placed the baby in a safe location" before he killed Taylor.
State Child Protective Services workers released the baby to Taylor's mother Thursday.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Hurricane man was in a fit of rage when he stabbed and killed the mother of his child Wednesday night before killing himself, police said Friday.
"It was a textbook crime of passion," according to Detective Larry Angell of the Hurricane Police Department.
At about 10 p.m. Wednesday, police went to Kelly's Cove, a Hurricane subdivision, to check on Katherine "Kate" Nicole Taylor, 33, and Christopher Wayne Kinder, 41.
Kinder apparently had called a relative and said the front door of the house was open, Hurricane police Chief Mike Mullins said. The relative then called police to check on the couple.
When police arrived, they found Taylor and Kinder dead. Taylor had multiple stab wounds and Kinder apparently had shot himself in the head with a 12-gauge shotgun.
"Having concluded the investigation, we feel comfortable in saying it was a murder-suicide," Angell said. "We know how it took place, we believe.
"Everybody has moments of sudden rage, issues -- that are contrary to being premeditated," he said. "There's nothing premeditated here."
The couple's 9-month-old baby was found in the house. Angell said Kinder had "placed the baby in a safe location" before he killed Taylor.
State Child Protective Services workers released the baby to Taylor's mother Thursday.
Friends of Kinder said the former pharmaceutical representative attended St. Albans High School, graduating in 1989.
Kinder's father, who lives in Florida, was in California when police told him about the apparent murder-suicide. He arrived in West Virginia Thursday night, Angell said.
"Everybody is trying to rally around each other for the needs of the child," Angell said. "Both families are working together to try and get through this."
Taylor attended Capital High School in Charleston, where friends and family have planned a candlelight vigil for 8 p.m. Sunday.
Meanwhile, another Kinder family started receiving phone calls shortly after news began spreading about the deaths in Hurricane.
"They started emailing and sending messages on Facebook, sending condolences," said Andy Kinder of Spencer, the brother of a different Chris Kinder.
That man -- Christopher William Kinder, 40, of St. Albans -- is fine. His family has been telling the numerous friends and family members who called after hearing about the events in Hurricane that they've got the wrong person.
"That wasn't our Chris," Andy Kinder said.
Reach Kate White at kate.wh...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1723.
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