The man who shot and killed his daughter’s boyfriend in late December 2017, has been indicted by the Grayson County Grand Jury on a second-degree manslaughter charge.
Billy Joe Houchin, 46, of Clarkson, is accused of shooting and killing 31-year-old Stephen Waninger, also of Clarkson (formerly of Indiana), during an argument at approximately 1:00 the morning of December 29 at Houchin’s former residence at 4334 Grayson Springs Road.
Initially, Kentucky State Police Detective Scotty Sharp did not charge Houchin in the death, but presented Commonwealth Attorney David Williams with the results of his investigation. Williams opted to present the case to the grand jury last week, resulting in Houchin being indicted.
The indictment states in part, “… on or about December 29, 2017 … the defendant, Billy J. Houchin, committed the offense of manslaughter in the second degree, when he wantonly caused the death of Stephen Waninger by shooting him with a gun and against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”1
Second-degree manslaughter is a class C felony, punishable by five to 10 years in prison.
According to Kentucky State Police, Det. Sharp found that Billy Joe Houchin’s daughter, 21 year-old Kaitlyn Houchin, and her boyfriend, 31 year-old Stephen Waninger, were living with Billy Joe Houchin at the Grayson Springs Road location. At some point in the early morning hours of Friday, December 29, Kaitlyn Houchin and Waninger became involved in a domestic altercation when her father intervened.
Waninger and Billy Joe Houchin then became involved in a serious physical altercation, KSP spokesman Jeff Gregory said, and after a lengthy struggle, Billy Joe Houchin fatally shot Waninger in the chest.
He was pronounced dead at the scene by Deputy Grayson County Coroner Larry Holeman.
Houchin was taken into custody at the scene by Grayson County Deputy Sheriff Rance Whobrey and Leitchfield Police Officer D.J. Newton, but was later released.
On February 1, the mobile home where Billy Joe Houchin’s moved soon after the shooting, 4374 Grayson Springs Road, suffered a major fire that is currently the subject of an arson investigation.
Houchin is being held in the Grayson County Detention Center on a $25,000 cash bond.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
