DEATHS OF MOTHER, DAUGHTER RULED DOUBLE HOMICIDE

[Teacher]

DEATHS OF MOTHER, DAUGHTER RULED DOUBLE HOMICIDE

BARDSTOWN, KY (WAVE) – The murder of a school teacher and her teenage daughter in Nelson County have been ruled a double homicide.

The bodies of Kathy Netherland, 48, and Samantha Netherland, 16, were found on April 21 by a family member who came to check on them.

Police are not releasing a cause of death, but said there were obvious signs of trauma.

Kathy Netherland was a beloved special education teacher at Bardstown Elementary. Samantha was a sophomore at Bardstown High.

"We pushed the curriculum to the side a little bit and it's been a slower pace, it's been a lot of talking and listening, more listening than anything," said Bardstown High School principal Chris Pickett.

Grief counselors and a crisis team were on hand at all the local schools as students and staff tried to cope with what happened.

"It took a very big large toll on me when I first heard the news," said student Ian Heywood.

With his mother by his side, Ian said what he loved most about Ms. Netherland. She was his teacher for three years.

"She was a very nice teacher, very patient and she always, most teachers could not handle me, but she complimented me and she took care of me at school and she was very nice and very patient. I love her," said Ian.

Ian's mother, Donna Heywood said she also considered Kathy Netherland a friend. The families attended the same church. Heywood said that not long ago Kathy Netherland lost her husband.

"He died from cancer recently and she's been dealing with that and she still goes strong with her teaching," said Heywood.

Samantha was very involved at school and in choir. "She was a wonderful student, very energetic, very consciousness, very academic," said Pickett.

Pickett said Samantha found out recently she was accepted to the Gatton Academy at Western Kentucky.

"I remember her mother Kathy getting the news and it was around St. Patrick's Day and they were dancing in their green," said Pickett.

"Samantha and Kathy Netherland will be sorely missed. They were wonderful people, they were very kind and considerate of others and we are going to miss them a lot," said Bardstown City Schools Superintendent Brent Holsclaw.

Kentucky State Police are asking all citizens and businesses that have surveillance video of KY 150 or Springfield Rd in the Botland community all the way to Bardstown to turn that over to police.

Police have made no arrests and there is no suspect information at this time.

Teacher -- Didn't know them but happened very close to me. Tragic - especially for the surviving daughter who has lost both parents and her only sibling within a year.

[ramseycat]

How awful. No leads? No idea who could have done this?

[HairOfTheDog]

Sad story, Teacher.

Hoping LE has surveillance, DNA, or a known suspect and they're just being tight-lipped as they investigate the killings.

Kathy's Twitter pic and caption:

"I'm a teacher devoted to Def Leppard, Man Raze, Duran Duran, Bee Gees, San Fran 49ers, ND Fighting Irish, UK, and WKU. Bardstown, Kentucky"

That's Samantha on the left, Kathy in the middle.

RIP Kathy and Samantha Netherland.

[HairOfTheDog]

It's now been one week since a Nelson County mother and her 16-year-old daughter were found dead in their home.

It's the first time we're hearing an update from investigators working on the case. And it's also the first time we're seeing surveillance video that could lead police to who's responsible for these murders.

Hundreds of tips are still pouring in surrounding the murders of teacher Kathy Netherland and her 16-year-old daughter, Samantha, at their home in Nelson County.

And state police still need the community's tips, hoping this surveillance video from businesses down the street from the Netherland's home helps. It shows the 2006 to 2013 model black Chevy Impala driving on U.S. 150 away from the crime scene towards Bardstown. Police think the murder suspect or suspects were in this car.



"The person who is responsible may not have ownership of that car, but it may be a car they borrowed," said Trooper Gregory.

The video isn't clear enough to get a license plate number or even see how many people are in the car. State police also cannot answer other questions, like were the Netherlands were targeted or was it a random act? Were there any signs of forced entry? And how were they killed? "I can't say," said Trooper Gregory. "I'm not going to be able to talk anything about the crime scene or motive right now."

One week into the investigation, state police say they need more time. But they believe if they can find out who is in that black Chevy Impala, then they think they can crack this case.

http://www.wkyt.com/news/headlines/State...63631.html