Constance Maria Murphy, 54, was killed at her Applegate home near Jacksonville, Oregon on October 20, 2021. Friends and family remembered her as empathetic, caring and creative; she worked as an editorial manager for a medical journal and more than 200 people later attended her funeral. The fatal attack was domestic violence by her estranged husband, 56-year-old David Allen Karnes. Karnes called 911 and attempted life-saving measures but hung up when it became clear she had died. Before a SWAT team entered, Karnes shot himself in the head and survived.

Court filings describe initial charges of second-degree murder; the case later resolved by plea to first-degree manslaughter and unlawful use of a weapon, with victim impact statements describing the family’s loss and the troubled nature of the relationship. Anyone who knew Constance or has information about her final days is asked to come forward.