Phillip Whitnel, Kentucky man wanted for shooting dead estranged wife, Stephanie Stacey at her place of work in Paducah extradited after captured in Illinois. Domestic violence murder followed victim recently filing for divorce.
A 38-year-old man accused of gunning down his estranged wife was this week extradited from Illinois to Kentucky where he will now stand trial in the woman’s murder.
Phillip Whitnel is alleged to have shot and killed Stephanie Stacey, 31, at her place of work, KC’s Bar and Grill in Paducah on December 13, 2025, circa 3.14 a.m, before fleeing the scene.
Stacey who was shot ‘multiple times’ died at a local hospital, the Paducah Police Department said.
Stephanie’s Law to honor domestic violence murder victim
Upon learning that Stacey had recently filed for divorce against Whitnel, police obtained a warrant charging him with murder. The wanted man was tracked to Illinois, where he was arrested by Illinois State Police during a traffic stop in Franklin County.
He was booked into the Franklin County Jail in Illinois until Wednesday, when he was extradited back to McCracken County, Kentucky. Whitnel is expected in court on March 12.
Stacey was a mother of two and a stepmother of one.
According to WPSD, Kentucky legislators are pushing a law they’ve dubbed ‘Stephanie’s Law’ to honor her. The legislation creates a domestic violence registry and requires anyone with at least two domestic violence convictions to be registered.
