DALTON, GA – A tragic series of events unfolded in Dalton, leaving three adults and one unborn child dead following a murder-suicide last week. The incident began early on the morning of May 21 when Kevin Andrew Akins, 37, visited his estranged wife’s apartment on Murray Avenue, where he shot and killed 35-year-old Rebeca Nicole Akins.
Dalton Police Department surveillance footage captured Kevin Akins leaving the scene around 6 a.m. However, it wasn’t until two days later that Rebeca was discovered.
Concerned co-workers, noticing her absence from work, requested a welfare check that led police to the grim discovery of her body with a gunshot wound to the head.
Subsequent investigations revealed that Akins then proceeded to an apartment on Shadow Lane, approximately four miles across town. There, he targeted his girlfriend, Cindel Mae Rhoden, 33, who was five months pregnant and a mother to two daughters. Akins fatally shot Rhoden before taking his own life.
The discovery in Rhoden’s apartment came amid a delay in obtaining a search warrant. As police awaited the warrant, Rhoden’s father, carrying a key, entered the apartment on May 24 and found his daughter and Akins deceased. He immediately notified authorities.
Rhoden is remembered fondly by her family as a devoted mother and vibrant individual. A fundraising campaign has been initiated to assist her surviving daughters with their basic needs and future expenses.
The tragedy also left Rebeca Nicole Akins’ family grappling with the aftermath. Her sister highlighted the financial entanglements with Kevin Akins, sharing concerns over potential difficulties with insurance claims due to the nature of the deaths.
As the community mourns, law enforcement has yet to identify any motive for the heinous acts. Both families, supported by local communities, are seeking solace and stability amid the shattering loss.