Izard County couple faces multiple charges after threatening victim with shotgun and striking woman with golf club

According to the affidavit for warrant of arrest for 32-year-old Justin Murphy and 22-year-old Kiera Shepherd filed Aug. 12 in Izard County Circuit Court, on Aug. 8, deputies with the Izard County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a home on Valley View Drive.

When Sgt. Mike Smith arrived, he made contact with Justin Reynolds who said he and his girlfriend Megan Phelps and a minor child were at the residence unloading a 4-wheeler when Murphy and Shepherd approached them from the side of the residence.

Murphy was holding a shotgun and pointed it at the trio confronting Reynolds and asking for property back that Reynolds believed Murphy had stolen.

Murphy also accused Reynolds of raping someone.

At some point, Murphy had dropped the shotgun he was holding and the three victims ran to the residence and while trying to escape, Shepherd swung a golf club, striking Phelps in the back with it.

The victims were able to make into the residence where they closed and locked the door. As the three were running to a bedroom for safety, they heard a loud boom and Shepherd and Murphy kicked in the front door and came to the bedroom door where the victims were hiding.

Shepherd and Murphy could be heard saying “one of you are going to die tonight.”

When the victims were asked for clarification as to who made the threat, it was noted it was both attackers had made the statement.

While on the phone with 911, the victims heard Murphy and Shepherd flee the scene at which time the victims exited the bedroom to find several windows had been broken from the outside.

The victims left the residence to be examined for their injuries.

Investigators arrived on scene and began speaking to the adult victims who provided an account of the incident and stated Murphy and Shepherd lived down the road on property with multiple camper trailers, a single wide mobile home and a multitude of people living in tents on the land.

Officers traveled to the property and spoke to multiple individuals but were unable to locate Shepherd or Murphy at the time.

After returning to the scene to process it for evidence, photographs were taken and some items, such as a golf club with a broken head were processed as evidence.

The damage to the home matched the account provided by the victims.

Upon reviewing criminal history for Murphy it was discovered he has an extensive criminal history including felony assaults, thefts and drug charges as well as having violent tendencies and multiple outstanding warrants.

It was a similar discovery with regards to Shepherd who had an extensive criminal history including felony drug and theft charges, fleeing; having violent tendencies and also having multiple outstanding warrants.

Both Murphy and Shepherd were later apprehended.

Murphy has been charged with one count of residential burglary, a class B felony; three counts of aggravated assault, a class D felony; one count of criminal mischief in the first degree, a class D felony; one count of terroristic threatening in the first degree, a class D felony and endangering the welfare of a minor, a class A misdemeanor. His bond has been set at $50,000.

Shepherd has been charged with residential burglary, a class B felony; aggravated assault a class D felony; one count of criminal mischief in the first degree, a class D felony; one count terroristic threatening, a class D felony and one count of endangering the welfare of a minor. Bond for Shepherd has been set at $50,000.