$50K reward offered for information in Florence double-homicide

FLORENCE, Ky. (FOX19) - The family of Bill and Peggy Stephenson is offering a $50,000 reward for any information which leads to an arrest in the unsolved double murder investigation.

William (Bill) and Peggy Stephenson, both 74, were found in their home May 29, 2011.

Bill Stephenson was a deacon at Union Baptist Church and his wife an organist for the congregation. Bill was known in the community for his work with the Trucker’s Chapel ministry at a truck stop on Route 18 just off Highway 75.

The Boone County Sheriff’s Office considers their deaths homicides. The case remains active.

Sheriff’s office Det. Coy Cox is the lead investigator in the case.

“We knew from the beginning, from May 29th, that this case was going to be an extremely complex case,” Cox said.

He explains whoever is responsible for the Stephensons’ deaths appeared to be comfortable in their home.

“We know the exact time of death, and from that and from the other injury, we know that someone or persons were in the residence for hours after the murders were committed,” Cox said. “So while they were there, they have altered some things in every room, so the scene that we have is what they wanted us to find. It’s not a crime scene.”

In the last nine years the investigation has spread across eight states with interviews of more than 200 people. While the case was beginning to turn cold, a recent crime podcast, Just the Tip-Sters, highlighted the unsolved murder investigation.

The podcast episode highlighted the unsolved murder investigation, which started generating new tips. Cox says the new information is exactly what they needed.

“It just so happens that the information that they had was information that has not been released to the public, so when they shared the topic of which they were talking about, it really has us excited... with guarded enthusiasm.”

“Detectives are encouraged by the new information because it is unique and contains details which were never released to the public,” the Boone County Sheriff’s Office said.

The Stephenson family is also excited that they may soon get answers.

“They’ve taken a lot away from our family, and we want justice for mom and dad, you know?” Daughter Beth Stephenson-Victor said. “We want to see whoever did this... we want justice.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the Boone County Sheriff’s Office at 859-334-8496.

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