Background: The balcony of a residence on the 100 block of East Memorial Drive in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, from where the victim fell (WLKY/YouTube). Insets (from left to right): Shawn Durbin and Nancy Durbin (Hardin County Detention Center).
A Kentucky couple faces serious allegations after reportedly throwing their neighbor off a second-story balcony, leading to his death in what authorities have described as a “despicable” act.
Shawn Durbin, 39, and Nancy Durbin, 36, are now charged with murder, according to Hardin County jail records obtained by Law&Crime. In addition to this, Shawn Durbin faces charges of resisting arrest and third-degree assault on a police officer.
The incident unfolded on November 13 at the Durbins’ residence in Sugar Mill Apartments, located in Elizabethtown. Their neighbor, Bobby Pennington, aged 62, was present at their apartment, though his reason for being there is not specified.
At some point, the Durbins and Pennington had an altercation, and the couple threw the older man off their second-floor balcony, which was some 12 feet high, onto the pavement below, the Elizabethtown Police Department told Louisville CBS affiliate WLKY. Video taken by the TV station shows a metal railing around the circumference of the outdoor area.
Police were called to the scene for a report of a man in cardiac arrest. Upon arrival at the apartment complex on the 100 block of East Memorial Drive, they discovered a woman administering CPR to Pennington. The woman allegedly witnessed the couple throwing him from the balcony.
Pennington was quickly transported to Baptist Health hospital, where medical examinations revealed he had sustained a broken neck and ribs, as reported by WLKY. Initially charged with assault, the Durbins’ charges were elevated to murder following Pennington’s death.
Chris Denham, a spokesman for the Elizabethtown Police Department, expressed his outrage, stating, “It’s disgusting, it’s despicable. All indications suggest he did nothing to deserve this,” referring to the tragic fate of the victim.
“There’s absolutely no ownership; it speaks volumes to the character of them,” Denham said of the suspects, noting that they denied any involvement with Pennington’s death. “Best reports we can come up with are that Mr. Pennington didn’t bother anyone and was thrown off of almost a 12-foot balcony and ended his life.”
The suspects are both locked up in the Hardin County Detention Center; they are expected to appear in court next month.
