ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, Va. — A shocking home invasion in New Market, Virginia, left Holly Hatcher, a beloved teacher and the mother of country music singer Spencer Hatcher, dead after being fatally stabbed on Sunday, August 3.
According to Rockingham County Sheriff Bryan Hutcheson, Holly’s husband, Michael Hatcher, 65, was also injured but managed to retrieve his handgun and fatally shot the attacker during the incident.
Deputies identified the suspect as Kevin Moses Walker, 41, of Pikesville, Maryland. Authorities believe the attack was random, as Walker had no known history of violence or criminal activity.
Investigators revealed that Walker had been camping at Endless Caverns, a tourist site near New Market, two days before the attack. He also purchased a sleeping bag and a large knife from a nearby Walmart. The next day, state police found an abandoned vehicle and discovered the Endless Caverns gift shop had been broken into, linking Walker to the break-in and issuing a felony arrest warrant.
The following day, the sheriff’s office received a 911 call from Michael Hatcher reporting the home invasion. Deputies arrived to find Michael injured outside, Walker dead in the driveway, and Holly Hatcher inside with fatal stab wounds.
In an emotional statement, Michael said:
“There are going to be questions that will never be answered, but all I can tell you is we’ve cried, we’ve hurt, and we’ve hugged — and we’ve found more love than we ever knew existed between us and our community.”
Spencer Hatcher spoke alongside the sheriff, saying the family wishes to focus only on confirmed facts and avoid speculation surrounding the attack.
Sheriff Hutcheson described Holly as a well-respected teacher who even taught his own son, adding:
“I’ve been in law enforcement for 31 years, and I have never seen anything like this in my entire career.”
While no charges will be filed since the suspect is dead, the sheriff’s department confirmed the investigation remains ongoing.
