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UPDATE: Disagreement over computer use possible motive for Corbin teen’s killing spree
Posted On 16 Feb 2015
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Jason Hendrix
UPDATE:
As part of the ongoing investigation into what led 16-year-old Jason Hendrix to fatally shoot his parents and younger sister last week, Corbin Police have conducted interviews with at least five family members, authorities said Tuesday.
Corbin Police Major Rob Jones, the department’s public affairs officer, said investigators met with the family members Monday and Tuesday. The gruesome deaths were discovered Saturday afternoon.
"Everybody we have talked to said he was a good kid," said Corbin Police Chief David Campbell.
Hendrix was a junior at Corbin High School and a member of the school’s JROTC program. He was also an active member of Forward Community Church. To everyone who knew him, he seemed like a bright, happy teen incapable of the violent outburst that led to the tragic deaths last week.
Campbell said investigators have found evidence that Hedrix’s parents, Kevin and Sarah Hendrix, had restricted their son’s computer usage recently for some reason. Authorities believe that may have been the spark for a violent rampage that ended in the three shooting deaths, and then the teen’s own demise in Baltimore Saturday.
Hendrix’s computer has been taken into evidence and the contents are being examined in a further effort to find a motive for the killings.
Campbell said Kevin, Sarah and their daughter, Grace, were each shot three times with a 9 mm handgun sometime between 4 and 6 p.m. last Wednesday. Based on interviews, it appears Jason Hendrix then went to a church youth meeting at Forward Community Church in Corbin. Campbell told the Lexington Herald-Leader that Jason Hendrix told people at that meeting that he had found his dad’s guns. The shootings appeared planned. Pillows were used to muffle the sound of gunshots.
The bodies of the family were found Saturday when Officer Steve Meadors was dispatched to the residence to perform a welfare check in response to a call police received from Baltimore County Police. Two of the victim’s were found in the kitchen, and the other was discovered in a back bedroom.
Campbell said the teen, who was killed earlier in the day Saturday in a shootout with Baltimore County (Md.) Police, had been travelling through New Jersey on Thursday following the shootings, though the question of "why" he decided to travel to the East Coast has been elusive.
"Family members said they didn’t know anybody in New Jersey or Baltimore," Campbell said.
Jason Hendrix Saturday morning following a high-speed pursuit and shootout with police near Baltimore, MD. He injured one officer and was fatally wounded by return fire. According to the Baltimore Sun newspaper, the shootout in Maryland happened following a pursuit that started when police tried to pull over a speeding vehicle. It ended when the car, an SUV registered to an owner in Corbin, crashed into another car. Campbell said the SUV belonged to Sarah Hendrix. When police approached the SUV, the driver opened fire and wounded one police officer. Six other officers returned fire and killed the gunman. Authorities are saying the person that was killed was Jason Hendrix.
When Baltimore County Police searched the vehicle, they found the 9mm handgun along with two .38-caliber revolvers, double-barrel shotgun and a backpack filled with ammunition.
Those close to the family said the couple’s son hadn’t been seen at school since last Tuesday.
His father worked in the office of Whitley County Circuit Clerk Gary Barton and hadn’t been to work in two days. Barton said Saturday night he was "devastated" by the news of the deaths.
Tri-County Cineplex, the home of Forward Community Church, was closed Sunday because of the tragedy. Suzie Razmus, co-owner of the theater, said Keith and Jason Hendrix were heavily involved in the church when it was founded, arriving around 7 a.m. to set up the equipment for the 10 a.m. service.
"Jason was the most heavily involved," Razmus said. "Even when the family started going to another church, they would drop Jason off so he could help set up."
Razmus said Jason began working part-time at the theatre in the summer, saying he was far from the typical teenager.
"Jason was a super hard worker and very responsible," Razmus said, noting nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary with him recently.
"Kevin, Sarah and Grace were truly special people," Razmus said. "They are going to be greatly missed."
Grace attended Corbin Intermediate School.
Sarah Hendrix was a professor at Union College in Barbourville.
The school’s official Facebook page acknowledged her death Saturday night, along with that of her husband and daughter. "The Union College community is heartbroken by the tragic deaths of Dr. Sarah Hendrix, her husband Kevin, and their daughter Grace. We have lost a member of our family, a wonderful educator, colleague, and friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hendrix family at this time."
Neighbors say the couple had three children in all together. The couple’s oldest daughter, Elizabeth, attends Berry College in Georgia.
Sarah Hendrix also had a son, Fred Thomas, from a previous marriage. Thomas, now 20, lives in Lexington with his father and attends the University of Kentucky.
An account at the fundraising website gofundme.com has been established to help Elizabeth with expenses.
In a statement released Monday, Corbin School’s Superintendent Ed McNeel said the deaths were shocking and tragic.
"Everyone involved with the Corbin School District is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life as reported Saturday night, February 14. Our deepest condolences go out to the Hendrix family and friends. At this time, the school district’s main objective is the well-being of the student body and to provide the opportunity for students and staff to grieve properly. Grief counseling for students and staff will be available at the school level by qualified professionals."
Police continue to investigate other possible reasons or motives for the killings. Campbell could not say Monday if Hendrix was known to have any mental health issues or possible other reasons for the shootings.
Corbin Police are spearheading the investigation. They are being assisted by multiple agencies including Whitley County Coroner Andy Croley, Kentucky State Police and the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department.
Funeral arrangements for the family were not available as of Tuesday afternoon. The arrangements will be posted at www.thenewsjournal.net when they become available.
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Honored. Not hovered
Well the rest of his family doesn’t blame him.. as I said. We didn’t honor what he did we hovered who he was. Everyone does make bad choices in their lives, some choices worse than others.
lewis why would they know the answers if they investigated jasons biological parents. I am jasons biological mom and dont have any answers. I have racked my brain on this I dont understand he was doing so good. I was proud he joined junior rotc. My question is is why did keven have that many guns and why werent they locked up. Jason wasnt coming here after we live in Michigan I dont even think he knew who I was. As far as mental illness there have been two suicides in our family I dont know if that helps the police. When I was pregnant for jason I didnt know i was pregnant until the fourth month and i was on paxil at the time I had reactions to it my chin chattered and when jason was born his chin chattered. Could that be a possability I dont know. Im trying to find reasons myself. He had three brothers who wanted to know him one day. They are also saddened by this.
he was a good kid and that is all that matters
he was a good kid and that is all that matters
I don’t know if this is true, but someone said that if police would investigate Jason’s biological parents, they would find the answers to their questions.
Guns aren’t the issue. Someone who intends to do harm will do so not matter what. Look at foreign countries and you see this with explosives, poisoning, and knives. How about you pray for the family instead of try to play liberal politics and promote your agenda.
Nobody is stating the obvious here. We have to many guns in our society. This kid had an arsenal on him when he shot at the police and they were his dad’s huns. Take the guns out of the home and this turd wouldn’t have been able to cause so much misery and death. No teenager should ever have access to weapons like this. We all know this upcoming generation is spoiled and don’t think right. They cannot handle the responsibility of a gun.
He was different alright.
Anon, you did NOT know who he was. You cannot say something based on what you think you know. He snapped.
He was different. It was wrong yes, but is it right to make an opinion on your invalid thoughts? Answer me that.
You seem to have a lot of inside info about his. Tells us more. Maybe the police need to talk to you since you are so familiar with the situation and have so much knowledge about these murders.
Murdering your family in cold blood is now being called just a bad choice? Like picking the wrong breakfast cereal or something. Wow!
Yeah really! What “details” can explain this away? I am so tired of some of these teenage twerps getting online and trying to apologize for his actions. Disgusting!
If you actually know anything, which I doubt, then why don’t you tell the rest of us? You are probably just full of bull.
will there be funeral services for the victims and son?
The reporter was referring to being thankful that the kid did not continue his wrath at a school like so many often do. I understand how complicated it must be for a teenager to lose someone they considered a friend, and thought they really knew. However, the actions of this kid leaves anyone who honors him discreditable.
What Jason done wasn’t right and he shouldn’t be honored for what he done. He may have been a good kid to his friends but maybe he was showing you what YOU wanted to see and not who he really was. Pray for the family and friends having to deal with this.
Joshua, I said IN our schools…not WITH our schools. (Meaning that we are fortunate the shooting didn’t happen IN our schools). My prayers are with his family and friends, as well as the entire community. I know what you are dealing with cannot be easy. Focus on coping, rather than attacking the sources who are trying to help us all make sense of this tragedy. Praying for you young man.
That’s the thing Reporter, It did Happen With My school
As I said a murderous coward killed his family and people would rather change the subject to spelling and grammar. Face the facts he was a deranged murderer not a martyr. I do apologize for some of my autocorrect considering Siri thinks she knows what I want to type, and my keyboard is the size of a fortune from a fortune cookie. But, if you’re going to comment about my grammar you may want to proof read your own. Two of your three sentences are fragments, and lol is not proper grammar. Quit trying to change the subject because you’re not articulate enough to put any one down.
This has been a lot to take in for our entire community and as a former reporter, I know that when in a hurry to get out the details online, it’s not always easy to be free of mistakes…I have noticed so many people frantic for more details, then want to criticize those who are providing that information. As far as those who think you have more details than being provided, I must advise you to go immediately and speak with Chief David Campbell at the Corbin Police Department. I’m sure he would love to have all of the FACTS that you could provide…be ready to offer proof of what you think you know though. In cases such as these, it is very important that the law enforcement officials have all of the information that is available. Lastly, I suggest the kids on here stop worrying about how a professional is writing something and be thankful this didn’t happen in our schools. Thank you News Journal for providing accurate information to our community in a timely manner!
Three innocent life’s were taken? Only in America lol. If the shoe fits.
Good people don’t kill their family. What exactly did his sister do. The timeline has her being his first victim when she got home from school. It was just him and her and he shot her three times. Once in the arm, which was most likely the initial shot and then twice in the head. You kids claiming that people don’t understand the real Jason. I don’t believe any of you kids knew the real Jason. You don’t know what kind of kid his parents had to deal with at home. Do you think it is appropriate to honor all murderers for their life before they were found out to be murderers. How long had anyone known Jason?
he wasn’t a bad person, he just made a very bad choice
We aren’t honoring what he did. we are honoring the person he was before, you don’t know everything he went through you don’t know about his “parents”. You don’t know how he was treated, I’m not saying what he did was right, but he is still my brother and I will love him till I see him again. Ask any of the “teens honoring him” they’ll tell you.
No, he didn’t go to school. He was in New Jersey Thursday.
Does anybody know if Jason went to school Thursday or Friday?
This kid murdered his family. This act can not be justified. Three innocent life’s were taken by this deranged individual, and you all want to talk about spelling and grammar. That’s just like all of these teens honoring the killer. He was a psychopath that killed his parents and sister. Everyone that thinks they knew him didn’t, I know that’s hard to comprehend, but no one knew the real Jason Hendrix until he showed himself this week. Prayers for the family and friends that have lost loved ones, but there shouldn’t be anyone mourning Jason. He wasn’t a martyr just a murderer.
Did no one proofread this? It’s riddled with errors.
“To everyone who knew he, he seemed like a”
he, he?
“Two of the victim’s were”
The plural of a word does NOT require an apostrophe.
“Neighbors say the couple had three children in all together.” Huh? “in all together” is not a phrase.
Atrocious proofing. Nearly unreadable.
Way to spell his name wrong following the first line of the third paragraph. And you guys don’t know the details behind it either. The small but important details