Cody Wayne Kinslow, 42, was shot and killed on the morning of September 21, 2023, at a residence on Little Flock Road east of Temple, Texas. Deputies arrived after a report of gunfire and Justice of the Peace Larry Wilkey pronounced him dead at the scene. A woman at the home, identified in court filings as Sandy Gayle Carrese, suffered an arm wound and was treated at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators rapidly focused on Howard Lee Bailey, who was accused in an affidavit of entering the home masked and shooting both Kinslow and Carrese; Bailey was later taken into custody after being found walking along a roadway. Court documents and cell-phone evidence described messages about purchasing narcotics, a voice message in which Carrese allegedly threatened Kinslow over money, and information that Kinslow had recently won money gambling. Ryan Adam Madden was accused of helping transport Bailey and of participating in the events leading to the shooting, and Madden was arrested after initially evading police. Carrese and Madden were also charged, and a Bell County grand jury returned murder indictments against Bailey, Carrese and Madden.

The prosecution remained active and, as of September 2026, all four were listed in custody on first-degree felony murder charges.

Did anyone in the area know Kinslow, or have information about his movements or contacts in the days before September 21, 2023?