A tragic domestic dispute has resulted in the deaths of two individuals in Starke, Florida, according to the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office. This heartbreaking incident, rooted in a conflict between a former husband and wife, unfolded in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Authorities were alerted to the situation at approximately 5:15 a.m. when a “911 hang-up call” prompted officers to rush to a residence on NE 6th Lane. Upon arrival, they discovered a man, identified as Loyd Alan Kerr, deceased near the entrance of the home, having suffered a fatal gunshot wound to his head.
Tragically, the officers soon found Rachael Renee Kerr, the man’s ex-wife, in the yard with a critical gunshot wound to her neck. Despite the swift response of Bradford EMS, Rachael succumbed to her injuries shortly after their arrival and was pronounced dead.
The grim scene was compounded by the presence of two children, aged 9 and 11, who were at the residence during the incident. The sheriff’s office has confirmed that this devastating event was the result of a long-standing domestic violence issue.
Sheriff Gordon Smith emphasized that this tragedy highlights the severe consequences of unresolved domestic disputes, underscoring the need for vigilance and intervention in such volatile situations.
Further investigation by the sheriff’s office revealed that the incident stemmed from a domestic violence situation.
According to Bradford County Sheriff Gordon Smith, Racheal had woken up after thinking that her home had been broken into. She reportedly called 911 before the call was disconnected.
Sheriff Smith says that Loyd had entered the home and taken the children into a vehicle outside. He also attempted to put Racheal into the vehicle, before she was able to escape with injuries.
After she fled, the sheriff says that Loyd took the children outside and asked them if they wanted to “go to heaven with dad” before he took his life. The children then ran to a neighbor’s house.
Sheriff Gordon confirmed that before the incident, deputies had been to that home multiple times before, and that Loyd had several pending domestic violence cases. It was also said that Racheal had an active restraining order.
Kerr was also arrested in Clay County in November 2025 on a charge of violating an injunction for domestic violence.
Loyd and Rachael’s children are said to be in the Florida Department of Children and Families care “pending placement with family.”
