North Carolina Woman Sentenced After Killing Husband, Blaming Intruder
MATTHEWS, N.C. — A Matthews woman who once claimed she and her husband were attacked by an intruder has admitted to shooting him herself, later accepting a plea deal in his death.
On July 16, 2016, Kimberly Reps, then 48, called 911 reporting that both she and her husband, Robert “Rob” Reps, 54, had been shot inside their Union County home. Kimberly alleged a masked gunman entered their bedroom, shooting Rob in the head and wounding her in the shoulder.
Crime Scene Evidence Raises Doubts
Deputies responding to the home found no signs of forced entry or theft, leading investigators to question her version of events.
Ballistics and trajectory analysis later revealed inconsistencies: had Kimberly been sitting upright, as she claimed, the bullet’s path would not have aligned with the damage found in the bedroom. Investigators also discovered the murder weapon was Rob’s own gun.
“These were red flags,” said prosecutors. “It was clear this wasn’t a home invasion.”
Motive and Confession
Detectives learned Kimberly had recently discovered evidence that Rob was involved with another woman. Combined with tensions over his drinking habits, this fueled suspicions of a domestic motive.
When confronted with the forensic evidence, Kimberly eventually confessed to shooting Rob and then injuring herself to appear as a victim.
She claimed years of verbal and alleged sexual abuse, though investigators said there was no evidence of physical abuse. Toxicology tests also showed Rob had no alcohol in his system at the time of death, despite Kimberly’s claims he was frequently drunk.
Plea Deal and Sentencing
Kimberly Reps was charged with first-degree murder but later reached a plea agreement. She pled guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 20 to 25 years in prison.
The decision divided those close to the family. Kimberly’s sister described her as a survivor, while Rob’s former partner insisted she should have faced a life sentence.
What are your thoughts on plea deals in serious cases like this one? Should Kimberly Reps have faced a harsher punishment? Share your perspective at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
