Couple charged with murder after throwing neighbor off balcony

Couple charged with murder after throwing neighbor off balcony

Posted by
1 min read
November 29, 2025

Elizabethtown, KY – A couple faces murder charges following the fatal fall of their neighbor from a second-story balcony. Shawn Durbin, 39, and Nancy Durbin, 36, are both being held in the Hardin County Detention Center.

The incident occurred at Sugar Mill Apartments on Tuesday, when 62-year-old Bobby Pennington was present at the couple’s apartment. An altercation ensued, leading to the Durbins allegedly throwing Pennington off the balcony, approximately 12 feet to the pavement below.

Emergency responders found Pennington in cardiac arrest and a woman providing CPR. She reported witnessing the Durbins throw him from the balcony.

Pennington was transported to Baptist Health hospital, where he was diagnosed with a broken neck and ribs. Following his death, the Durbins’ initial assault charges were upgraded to murder.

Elizabethtown Police Department spokesman Chris Denham described the crime as “despicable,” emphasizing that Pennington did not provoke the attack.

The suspects reportedly denied involvement in Pennington’s death and are scheduled to appear in court next month.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version