Kaitlyn Marie Wise

In the small community of Lebanon, Kentucky, Kaitlyn Marie Wise, a 29-year-old White woman, was a loving mother to her two young sons. A 2011 graduate of Marion County High School and a former employee of TG KY, she was remembered for her vibrant personality. Her life was tragically cut short, leaving a profound void in the lives of her family and friends.

On the night of February 13, 2023, just before midnight, the Lebanon Police Department responded to a call at a residence on Harrison Street. Inside, they discovered Kaitlyn deceased. The Kentucky State Police were called to take over the investigation and determined that she had suffered fatal injuries from apparent gunshot wounds. The news of her violent death sent ripples of grief and shock through her close-knit community.

For over a year, the case remained at the forefront of the community's thoughts as they awaited answers. The investigation, led by Kentucky State Police Detective Josh Dicken, continued until a significant breakthrough occurred on May 12, 2024. A Marion County Grand Jury returned an indictment for Dailin Marquez Brown-Graves, 23, who was arrested that same day. Kaitlyn’s grandmother called the arrest “the best Mother’s Day news for our family.” Three months later, on August 6, 2024, authorities arrested a second suspect, Steven Lamont Bell.

Both men were charged in connection with Kaitlyn’s death. Brown-Graves was charged with murder, first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery, two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, and second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument. Bell was charged with murder, first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery, and two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment. Brown-Graves entered a plea of not guilty.

In October 2024, a judge granted a motion to consolidate the two cases, and the men are set to be tried together in Marion Circuit Court. As of a status hearing that same month, the joint jury trial for Brown-Graves and Bell has been scheduled to begin on August 25, 2026.