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Who Is Caitlin Spence & Where Is She Now? 2026 Update & Profile

Ryan Gill

Caitlin Spence became a central figure in the murder investigation of Mississippi businessman Kirby Carpenter after admitting that she knew her father had killed her boyfriend and had failed to report the crime. Her testimony helped prosecutors secure a first-degree murder conviction against Jeffrey Spence, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in March 2026.

Her involvement in the case resulted in her arrest on a capital murder charge, more than a year in jail, a guilty plea to accessory after the fact to murder and a sentencing agreement that allowed her to leave court without serving additional prison time.

Caitlin’s story is examined in Dateline NBC’s “The Betrayal of Kirby Carpenter,” airing Friday, October 16, 2026, at 9/8c on NBC. Correspondent Andrea Canning interviews Caitlin, her father and other relatives about the events surrounding Carpenter’s death and the criminal proceedings that followed.

The case left Caitlin facing a choice between protecting her father and cooperating with prosecutors while separated from the young daughter she shared with Carpenter. Her decision to testify against Jeffrey became one of the defining developments in the investigation.

Who Is Caitlin Spence?

Caitlin Spence is a Mississippi woman who was in a relationship with entrepreneur Kirby Carpenter when he was murdered in Tippah County on November 30, 2022.

Carpenter, 36, operated Mississippi Gold, Silver, and Coin Exchange, a business dealing in precious metals, coins and other valuables. His financial success became a major focus of the investigation after he was found shot to death outside his home.

Caitlin and Carpenter had a young daughter together. Their relationship connected Carpenter to Caitlin’s parents, Jeffrey and Karen Spence, and her sister, Carolyn Aguayo.

Those family relationships became central to the criminal case. Jeffrey was accused of murdering Carpenter, Karen faced charges connected to the crime, and Caitlin admitted withholding information about her father’s involvement.

Before the murder investigation, Caitlin’s life was connected to Carpenter through their relationship and shared responsibility for their daughter. The available public reporting provides limited information about her education, employment or personal history before the killing.

Her public profile developed through the investigation, the criminal charges against her and her decision to become a prosecution witness against her father.

Caitlin Spence’s Relationship With Kirby Carpenter

Caitlin was dating Carpenter when he was killed in November 2022. The couple lived in Mississippi and had a daughter who was still an infant at the time of her father’s death.

Carpenter had established a successful business involving gold, silver and collectible coins. Prosecutors later argued that his wealth and access to substantial amounts of money provided the motive for his murder.

Caitlin’s father, Jeffrey Spence, was connected to Carpenter through the relationship. He was also the grandfather of Caitlin and Carpenter’s daughter.

The murder transformed these family connections into the centre of a criminal investigation. Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding Carpenter’s death, while prosecutors came to believe that Jeffrey was responsible.

During Jeffrey’s trial, defence attorneys sought to portray Carpenter as an abusive man involved in drug dealing. These were defence allegations rather than established findings about his conduct.

Caitlin’s relationship with Carpenter became part of the courtroom evidence because of her knowledge of the killing and the account she gave of her father’s alleged confession.

Her decision to remain silent after learning about Jeffrey’s involvement would lead to criminal consequences of her own.

What Did Caitlin Spence Know About Kirby Carpenter’s Murder?

Carpenter was killed with a shotgun on November 30, 2022. His body was discovered outside his Tippah County home two days later.

Caitlin later testified that her father had confessed his involvement in Carpenter’s murder after she discovered her boyfriend’s body.

Her account became a central part of the prosecution’s case against Jeffrey. It placed an alleged admission before the jury and connected him to the killing through the testimony of his daughter.

Caitlin described changes in her father’s conduct after Carpenter’s death. According to Court TV’s reporting on the trial, she characterised Jeffrey as aggressive and curt with her.

She also testified that he told her it was not her responsibility to find Carpenter’s killer.

Despite what she said her father had told her, Caitlin did not report his alleged confession to investigators at the time.

That failure to disclose information became the basis of her later guilty plea to accessory after the fact to murder.

The available reporting does not establish that Caitlin was convicted of planning or carrying out Carpenter’s killing. Her eventual conviction concerned her conduct after the murder.

Why Did Caitlin Spence Remain Silent?

Caitlin’s decision not to report her father’s involvement became one of the most significant questions in the case.

In March 2026, after Jeffrey’s conviction, she spoke with the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal about why she had withheld information.

Caitlin said she believed her father would come forward and accept responsibility for killing Carpenter. She maintained that she had waited for him to do the right thing.

As time passed, she said, she came to believe that Jeffrey would not confess or take steps to clear her and her mother from suspicion.

Her explanation presented her silence as a decision influenced by her expectation that her father would take responsibility. It did not change the fact that she had withheld information about a murder.

The courts addressed that conduct through her guilty plea to accessory after the fact.

Caitlin’s explanation also became part of the broader conflict between the families. Carpenter’s relatives believed her failure to report what she knew had compounded their suffering and delayed accountability.

Caitlin Spence Arrested Alongside Her Parents

In November 2023, approximately one year after Carpenter’s murder, Caitlin was arrested alongside her parents, Jeffrey and Karen Spence.

All three were charged with capital murder in connection with Carpenter’s death.

The arrests created an immediate crisis for Caitlin’s family. Her daughter was 16 months old at the time and was sent to Pennsylvania to live with relatives.

Caitlin remained in jail while the criminal proceedings developed. Her separation from her daughter continued for approximately 17 months.

The time in custody became an important factor in her decision to cooperate with prosecutors. By the time she negotiated her plea agreement, she had spent longer in jail than she had spent raising her daughter before her arrest.

The criminal cases against the three defendants developed along different paths. Jeffrey faced prosecution for murder, Karen would plead guilty to a larceny offence and Caitlin would admit to accessory after the fact.

The change in Caitlin’s legal position meant that she would move from being a defendant facing a capital murder charge to becoming a witness against her father.

Why Caitlin Spence Decided to Testify Against Her Father

In April 2025, Caitlin pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to murder as part of an agreement with prosecutors.

The agreement required her to testify against Jeffrey Spence. Her sentencing was postponed until after she had fulfilled that obligation.

Caitlin later explained that her separation from her daughter was a major reason for seeking an agreement.

Speaking to the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal after her father’s conviction, she described her daughter as her central priority.

She said she had been incarcerated and separated from the child for longer than the period during which she had been able to raise her.

Caitlin and her attorney contacted District Attorney Ben Creekmore’s office and disclosed what she knew about the killing.

Her decision created a direct conflict with her father, who continued to contest the murder charge.

Caitlin would testify against Jeffrey at two trials, providing the prosecution with an account of his alleged confession.

The plea agreement also meant that her sentence would be determined after the completion of her testimony, giving prosecutors an opportunity to assess whether she had fulfilled the conditions of the arrangement.

Caitlin Spence’s Testimony at Jeffrey Spence’s Trials

Jeffrey Spence’s first murder trial took place in September 2025. Caitlin testified for the prosecution and told jurors that her father had confessed involvement in Carpenter’s death.

Her testimony was significant because it concerned statements she said Jeffrey had made after the killing.

The defence challenged the prosecution’s case, including its reliance on witnesses whose accounts and motivations jurors were required to assess.

Caitlin’s plea agreement was an important part of that assessment. She had originally faced a capital murder charge and had negotiated an arrangement that could allow her to avoid additional prison time.

The first trial ended with a hung jury. Jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict, and the court declared a mistrial.

Prosecutors proceeded with a second trial in March 2026.

Caitlin testified against her father again, repeating her account of his involvement in Carpenter’s murder.

The second trial lasted four days. On March 27, 2026, the jury convicted Jeffrey Spence of first-degree murder.

Circuit Judge John Kelly Luther imposed the mandatory life sentence after the verdict.

Caitlin’s testimony formed part of the prosecution’s successful case, although the verdict reflected the jury’s consideration of the evidence presented during the trial as a whole.

Caitlin Spence’s Mother and Sister Also Became Involved

The case exposed divisions within Caitlin’s family that extended beyond her decision to testify against her father.

Her mother, Karen Spence, was arrested alongside Caitlin and Jeffrey in November 2023.

Karen pleaded guilty to grand larceny after the fact for her role in the crime and received a 10-year prison sentence.

Caitlin’s sister, Carolyn Aguayo, also testified during Jeffrey’s murder proceedings.

Aguayo described conflict within the family and told jurors that she had referred to her parents as “Bonnie and Clyde.”

She said she no longer maintained a relationship with them.

Her testimony added another perspective on the family relationships surrounding the case.

By the conclusion of the criminal proceedings, Jeffrey had been convicted of murder, Karen had received a prison sentence for grand larceny after the fact, and Caitlin had pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact.

The case left members of the same family on opposing sides of the prosecution, with two daughters giving testimony about their father.

What Sentence Did Caitlin Spence Receive?

Caitlin returned to Tippah County Circuit Court on March 30, 2026, three days after her father was convicted.

Her guilty plea had been entered in April 2025, but sentencing was deferred until she completed her testimony against Jeffrey.

Judge Kelly Luther accepted the prosecution’s sentencing recommendation and imposed a 20-year sentence for accessory after the fact to murder.

Caitlin received credit for approximately 17 months she had spent in jail awaiting trial.

The judge suspended the remaining prison time and ordered five years of probation.

The outcome meant that Caitlin could leave court without being required to serve additional prison time at that point, although the conviction and probation remained in effect.

The sentence reflected the agreement negotiated with prosecutors in exchange for her cooperation.

It also became a source of disagreement between the prosecution’s approach to securing testimony and Carpenter’s family’s expectations of punishment.

Why Kirby Carpenter’s Family Opposed Caitlin’s Sentence

Carpenter’s mother, Mattie Jane Jones, and sister, Kaysie Barnes, addressed the court during Caitlin’s sentencing hearing.

They urged Judge Luther to reject the sentencing recommendation and impose the maximum punishment available.

Jones described the devastation caused by her son’s murder and the consequences for her family.

She argued that Carpenter had lost his life while Caitlin had received the opportunity to negotiate a plea agreement.

Jones said her son’s death had deprived the family of safety, peace of mind and the life they had known.

Barnes also criticised the proposed sentence. She expressed gratitude that Jeffrey Spence had been convicted and would spend the rest of his life in prison but argued that Caitlin should face a greater punishment.

The family believed that Caitlin’s knowledge of the murder and her failure to report it deserved stronger consequences.

Despite those objections, the judge accepted the negotiated agreement.

Caitlin left the courtroom following sentencing, while Carpenter’s family continued to confront the consequences of his death and the role his girlfriend had played after the killing.

Where Is Caitlin Spence Now?

Caitlin Spence was released from custody on March 30, 2026, after receiving a suspended prison sentence and five years of probation. That is the latest confirmed legal outcome in the reporting available for this profile.

She left Tippah County Circuit Court a free woman after the judge accepted the sentencing recommendation negotiated under her plea agreement.

Her 20-year sentence was not erased. She received credit for time served, and the remaining prison term was suspended subject to the terms of her sentence.

Caitlin’s precise current residence has not been established in the available reporting. There is no verified information in those reports confirming her present employment, living arrangements or whether she has relocated from Mississippi.

Following her father’s conviction, Caitlin told the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal that she had not had contact with Jeffrey since his arrest.

She also said her focus was on her daughter.

Her release created the possibility of rebuilding her relationship with the child after an extended separation, although the available reporting does not establish the full details of her subsequent custody or living arrangements.

As of the reported March 2026 sentencing outcome, Caitlin was no longer incarcerated and was subject to five years of probation. Any later changes to her legal status would require confirmation from updated court records.

What Happened to Caitlin Spence’s Daughter?

Caitlin and Kirby Carpenter’s daughter was an infant when Carpenter was murdered in November 2022.

The following year, when Caitlin and her parents were arrested, the child was 16 months old and was sent to Pennsylvania to live with relatives.

Caitlin remained separated from her daughter throughout her period in jail.

By March 2026, the girl was four years old.

According to the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, custody arrangements involved family members in Pennsylvania and Tippah County, Mississippi.

The arrangements reflected the consequences of Carpenter’s death and the criminal proceedings involving the child’s maternal relatives.

At Caitlin’s sentencing, Judge Luther addressed the continuing conflict between the families and urged them to consider how their conduct could affect the girl.

He warned that the families would remain connected through the child and encouraged relatives to avoid allowing their disagreements to damage her upbringing.

The judge’s comments reflected concern about the long-term consequences of the murder for someone who was too young to understand the events that had divided her family.

Caitlin’s stated desire to focus on her daughter became one of the main themes of her comments following her father’s conviction.

Has Caitlin Spence Reconciled With Her Father?

There is no confirmed public account of a reconciliation between Caitlin and Jeffrey Spence following his murder conviction.

Caitlin told the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal in March 2026 that she had not spoken with her father since his arrest.

Her testimony against Jeffrey at both murder trials placed her in direct opposition to him in court.

She told jurors that her father had confessed involvement in Carpenter’s death, while Jeffrey contested the charges against him.

The second trial ended with his conviction for first-degree murder and a mandatory life sentence.

Caitlin’s decision to cooperate with prosecutors also followed a period during which she said she had expected her father to come forward and accept responsibility.

The available reporting does not establish whether she has communicated with him since her sentencing or whether their relationship has changed.

Her last reported position was that she had cut off contact and intended to focus on her daughter.

How Caitlin Spence’s Life Changed After the Murder

The events surrounding Carpenter’s death changed Caitlin’s circumstances in several ways.

She lost her boyfriend, was arrested on a capital murder charge, spent approximately 17 months in jail and became a witness against her father.

Her mother received a prison sentence, her father was convicted of murder and her sister testified about conflict within the family.

Caitlin’s guilty plea also meant that she accepted criminal responsibility for withholding information about Carpenter’s killer.

Her decision to cooperate with prosecutors helped move the murder case toward a conviction, but it did not remove the consequences of her conduct or the objections raised by Carpenter’s family.

The case also separated her from her daughter during an important period of the child’s early life.

At sentencing, Caitlin faced a future defined by probation, a criminal conviction and the task of rebuilding her family relationships.

Her comments after the verdict suggested that her priorities had shifted toward motherhood and her daughter’s welfare.

The public record does not establish how those plans have developed since her release.

Caitlin Spence Appears in Dateline NBC’s The Betrayal of Kirby Carpenter

Caitlin Spence is among the central interview subjects in Dateline NBC’s “The Betrayal of Kirby Carpenter,” reported by Andrea Canning.

The episode examines the murder of Kirby Carpenter, the investigation into Jeffrey Spence and the testimony that helped prosecutors secure a conviction.

Caitlin’s role is significant because she was both Carpenter’s girlfriend and the daughter of the man convicted of killing him.

Her account of Jeffrey’s alleged confession became central to the prosecution, while her guilty plea raised questions about why she had withheld information and the terms under which she agreed to testify.

The programme also features interviews with Carpenter’s mother, Mattie Jane Jones, sister Kaysie Barnes and brother Robbie Carpenter, alongside investigators and attorneys involved in the case.

The family’s opposition to Caitlin’s sentence provides another perspective on the consequences of her actions and the legal agreement that allowed her to leave court.

“Dateline NBC: The Betrayal of Kirby Carpenter” airs Friday, October 16, 2026, at 9/8c on NBC.

The two-hour investigation revisits the killing, the family relationships surrounding it and the legal proceedings that left Jeffrey Spence serving a life sentence while Caitlin Spence was released on probation.

More “The Betrayal of Kirby Carpenter”

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