A Texas man who murdered his estranged wife and her twin sister by shooting them dead has been jailed for life without parole.
Kelley Bigham, 50, was arrested in June 2016 after his wife Karen Bigham and her sister Kathy Boobar, both 49, were found shot to death inside their North Texas home.
The married couple’s college age daughter, who was in the house at the time of the savage killings heard her father shoot her mother and aunt dead at point-blank range.
Kathy Boobar (left) and her twin sister Karen Bigham (right) were shot to death by Kelley Bigham after Karen said that she wanted to get a divorce from her husband
Kelley Bigham, was arrested and pleaded guilty to both murders. He has been jailed for life
As Kelley Bigham pulled out a handgun, he told his daughter to leave.
She heard her mother yell ‘call 911,’ and then two gunshots.
By the time officers arrived they discovered the bodies of Karen, a grandmother and popular hairdresser in the area, and her twin, Kathy, a bank president.
Bigham was arrested after a brief manhunt after he was found hiding out at his father’s house.
After being charged with murder, he pleaded guilty to the killings.
Prosecutors could have sought the death penalty if the case went to trial.
At the sentencing, several family members were present for the plea and gave emotional victim impact statements, according to the Collin County DA’s Office.
CBS Dallas reports how family and friends spoke of the love and friendship Karen and Kathy shared as well as how their tragic murders affected their community.
Bigham was arrested after a brief manhunt. He was found hiding out at his father’s house
At the time of the murders, friends and family paid tribute to the two sisters on Facebook.
Fellow Mount Pleasant High School, Texas, graduate Stefanie Roy wrote: ‘Both of these ladies were great people and close friends from high school. I can’t sleep for crying. It’s all so surreal.’
Lynne Thyfault Hubbard, a friend of Bigham, asked for prayers for the Karen and Kathy.
‘Karen & her sister were taken from us in a senseless shooting,’ she said. ‘God comfort those kids, their mom, the sweet babies and Karen’s many friends and clients. She was so loved and she was someone who listened, laughed and truly cared about each person in her life.’
Regina Davis described Karen as ‘a sweet daughter, sister, mother, grandmother and friend that didn’t deserve this.’
‘I will continue to pray for her family and mostly her children. NOTHING can prepare you for a loss like this.’