A deeply tragic and shocking crime has shaken the city of Dalton, Georgia, where a man named Kevin Akins, aged 37, murdered his wife and pregnant girlfriend, before taking his own life. Police are calling it a double murder-suicide.
The heartbreaking event involved two innocent women—Rebeca Akins, 35, and Cindel Rhoden, 33, a mother of two who was expecting another child.
What Happened?
On the morning of May 21, Kevin Akins went to his wife Rebeca’s apartment in Dalton and shot her in the head, according to a press release from Dalton Police Department (DPD).
After killing Rebeca, Kevin drove to the home of Cindel Rhoden, his girlfriend, who had recently found out she was pregnant with a baby boy. Police say Kevin then murdered Cindel before killing himself.
How the Bodies Were Found
Rebeca was reported missing after she missed three days of work without informing anyone. Concerned co-workers requested a welfare check on May 23. Police entered her home and found her dead from a gunshot wound.
Surveillance cameras showed Kevin leaving her apartment on the morning of May 21. This footage helped police start piecing together the timeline.
The next day, on May 24, officers tracked Kevin’s car to another apartment complex. While police were waiting for a search warrant, they saw Cindel Rhoden’s father enter an apartment and rush out. He had discovered the dead bodies of his daughter and Kevin Akins, and immediately called 911.
Investigation and Family Reaction
The police say the investigation is still in its early stages, and no official motive has been shared yet.
Meanwhile, Cindel’s family has set up a GoFundMe page to collect donations for her funeral and to help support her two young daughters. They described her as a kind and hardworking single mother.
In a statement, the family said:
“Cindel was taken from us in a senseless act of violence. She was doing her best as a mother and was full of life and kindness.”
They also expressed anger toward Kevin Akins, saying he “took the coward’s way out” by ending his own life after committing the crime.
Who Were the Victims?
Rebeca Akins was Kevin’s wife, living separately in an apartment in Dalton. Not much is publicly known about her, but her co-workers clearly cared enough to report her missing.
Cindel Rhoden was a mother of two and newly pregnant. Her family said she worked hard and was trying to build a good life for her children.