The Grayson County man who shot and killed his daughter’s boyfriend as the couple were engaged in a dispute has been found guilty in the man’s death.
Billy Joe Houchin, 48, of Clarkson, shot and killed 31-year-old Stephen Waninger, also of Clarkson (formerly of Indiana), during an argument at approximately 1:00 the morning of December 29, 2017, at Houchin’s former residence at 4334 Grayson Springs Road.
After a day-and-a-half trial, Houchin was found guilty Thursday night by a Grayson County jury of reckless homicide in the death of Waninger. Reckless homicide is a class D felony, punishable by one to five years in prison. According to Kentucky Revised Statute, a person is guilty of reckless homicide when, “with recklessness he causes the death of another person.” Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Robert Shafer prosecuted the case.
Sentencing has been scheduled for April 16. With Houchin incarcerated for about one year, it’s possible he could be credited with time served and released at sentencing.
Initially, the investigator, Kentucky State Police Detective Scotty Sharp, did not charge Houchin in the death but presented then-Commonwealth Attorney David Williams with the results of his investigation. Williams opted to present the case to the Grayson County Grand Jury, resulting in Houchin being indicted for second-degree manslaughter, a class C felony.
According to Kentucky State Police, Sharp found that Houchin’s daughter, Kaitlyn Houchin, 21 at the time, 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 December 29, Kaitlyn Houchin and Waninger became involved in a domestic altercation, when her father intervened.
Waninger and Billy Joe Houchin became involved in a physical altercation where Billy Joe Houchin fatally shot Waninger in the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Deputy Grayson County Coroner Larry Holeman.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
