Appomattox County, VA: Murder-Suicide Leaves Three Children Motherless

Posted: Jan 31, 2011 6:38 PM EST

Reporter: Lauren Compton l Videographer: Daniel Heffner

Appomattox Co., VA - A mother of three and her fiancé are dead after what investigators are calling a murder suicide.

Appomattox County investigators say 24-year-old Kevin Sparrow shot and killed his fiancée, 35-year-old Vanta Haskins, before killing himself.

It started after a domestic dispute on Sunday at a home on the 1100 block of Narrow Passage Road. Investigators say they hadn't received any prior domestic violence calls there.

Haskins and Sparrow shared the home with Smith's three daughters. The three girls were not home at the time of the shooting.

When neighbors found out what happened at 1173 Narrow Passage Road, they were at a loss for words.

"When I found it was murder I was taken back," said Phyllis Winfrey, a neighbor.

Appomattox County Chief Deputy Todd Craft says on Sunday morning emergency dispatchers received back to back phone calls from the residence.

"On the third and last call you could hear they were arguing. Then, the phone went dead and we couldn't get a response after that," said Craft.

When deputies arrived at the home around 1:00 a.m. they found Haskins dead on the kitchen floor. Search warrants show she was shot multiple times at close range.

Investigators found seven shell casings on the kitchen floor, two live rounds, torn family photos, and two broken cell phones. They also removed 12 guns from the home.

Hours later investigators found Sparrow's body in a church cemetery in Gladstone, dead from self-inflicted wounds, lying next to his brother's grave.

Investigators believe the gun Sparrow used to kill himself was also used in the murder. Craft says he knew Haskins' family, and often saw her working at the local Huddle House.

"You just feel for the family especially when you know them," said Craft.

"I pray for the kids. I pray that they will get past this," said Winfrey.

Investigators say Haskins' three daughters are staying with family members at this time. Her body has been sent to the Medical Examiner's office in Roanoke.