KENTWOOD, Mich. — Relatives of a woman who was killed in what police are calling a domestic dispute say they want to keep a similar situation from happening to someone else. On Sunday, relatives identified Casey Kempker, 41, as the victim who was killed Friday at the Pheasant Ridge Apartments in Kentwood.
The suspect, who family identified to FOX 17 as Kempker's husband Lamont Gulley, was shot and killed by an officer after, police say, he threatened officers with a knife.
Kamri Jones is Kempker's daughter, and she told FOX 17 her mother was stabbed to death in front of Jones's younger brother, who has autism. Police have yet to release an official cause of death.
Jones said she was texting Kempker hours before her death, and Jones believes without a doubt it was Gulley who killed Kempker.
"I know it was him that did it; he was the only person there," Jones said. "My neighbors say they saw [Gulley] open the door to the police and say everything was fine, and that same person walked out with the knife and got him self shot by police."
Jones said her mother and Gulley were married in a private ceremony last year, but the honeymoon did not last long. She said her mother told her Gulley was physically and sexually abusive.
What's "really upsetting" to Jones is the fact her 7-year-old autistic brother was inside the apartment the night her mother was killed. "Their bond was special, and the fact that he doesn't have her anymore, that's really upsetting," Jones said.
She said others who might be in an abusive relationship don't have to be victims. "Say something so it can stop, because it can be stopped," she said. "They can be thrown behind bars; you can get a restraining order or something. You have to remove yourself from the situation before it's too late."
Jones said she is using the strength and wisdom her mom taught her throughout her life to deal with her mother's death.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the victim's family.
