A child was found unharmed inside the Lake Royale home as state and local authorities continued investigating the deaths.
LAKE ROYALE, NC — A husband and wife were found dead outside their Franklin County home Friday after an apparent murder-suicide, authorities said, while a child who was inside the residence was found unharmed.
Lake Royale Company Police identified the couple as Kevin Killworth and Kimberly Killworth. Investigators have identified Kevin Killworth as the suspected assailant and Kimberly Killworth as the victim, according to police. Authorities stressed that the investigation remains active and that final determinations on the cause and manner of the deaths will be made by the appropriate authorities.
Officers responded around 9:30 a.m. Friday to a home on Sunlight Cove in the Lake Royale community after receiving a call involving unknown circumstances. When police arrived, they found both adults dead outside the residence. Investigators believe the deaths happened several hours before officers were called.
Lake Royale Police Chief Robert Smith said information gathered by investigators, including an account from the child inside the home, indicated the shooting likely occurred around midnight. Police did not arrive until the following morning. Authorities have not publicly detailed what happened during the hours between the shooting and the call that brought officers to the property.
Police learned during their response that a child might still be inside the residence. Officers entered and found the child unharmed. The child, who is younger than 10, was initially placed in the care of the Department of Social Services while authorities worked to contact relatives and arrange for family members to take custody.
Police said the Killworths married in 2024. Authorities also said Kevin Killworth was a Navy veteran. Investigators have not released a confirmed motive or provided additional details about what may have led to the deaths.
The incident brought Lake Royale Company Police, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to the scene. Multiple law enforcement vehicles and emergency personnel responded, and Sunlight Cove was temporarily closed while investigators examined the property.
Police said the incident appeared to be isolated and that investigators did not believe anyone connected to the deaths remained at large. Authorities said there was no known continuing threat to residents of the Lake Royale community.
The investigation remained ongoing through the weekend. Officials said further information was being limited to protect the family and the integrity of the investigation, and no additional findings about the circumstances surrounding the deaths had been publicly released.
Author note: Last updated August 9, 2026.