Starke Couple Found Dead in Suspected Murder‑Suicide; Children Escape Unharmed

 STARKE, FL — Authorities in Bradford County are investigating a suspected murder‑suicide after a man and his estranged wife were found shot to death early Thursday morning inside a home on Northeast Sixth Lane near the Bradford‑Clay county line.

Deputies with the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office responded around 5:15 a.m. after a 911 hang‑up call from the woman’s phone. Upon arrival, officers discovered 50‑year‑old Loyd Alan Kerr dead from an apparent self‑inflicted gunshot wound to the head, with a firearm nearby. A search of the property led to the discovery of his estranged wife, 43‑year‑old Rachael Renee Kerr, suffering from a gunshot wound to the neck. Despite emergency efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two children, ages 9 and 11, were inside the home during the incident but managed to escape unharmed to a neighbor’s house, officials confirmed.

The tragedy occurred despite an active domestic violence injunction against Loyd Kerr. Records show he was arrested on January 20 for violating the order, including allegedly placing tracking devices on Rachael Kerr’s vehicle. He was released the following day on $200,000 bond from Clay County jail.

Court documents reveal Rachael Kerr had repeatedly contacted law enforcement to report violations of the injunction, with deputies finding probable cause in multiple cases.

“This has been an ongoing domestic violence‑type of situation between the two. She was going through all the right processes to prevent any further harm from him,” said Bradford County Chief Deputy Colonel Brad Smith.

The investigation remains ongoing as detectives probe the circumstances surrounding the deaths and broader concerns over domestic violence protections.

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