PRINCETON, Ky. — Police are accepting the community’s help with an unsolved homicide that occurred in the Princeton community in April 2024. According to neighbors of the victim, since the incident occurred on South Jefferson Street, nothing has been the same.

In 2024, Kentucky State Police responded to a home in the area after the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance, in which Dorothy D. Sparks was found dead. The scene was declared a homicide and has been under extensive investigations since.

Sparks is someone that friends, neighbors and her family all describe as a woman who cared about all who she came into contact with.

Sparks’ longtime neighbor Jenny Franke and other neighbors were among the first to arrive on the scene, quickly realizing something was awry. This was after receiving a call from one of Sparks’ daughters, who had asked them to check on her when they were unable to reach her by cell phone.

“As we’re approaching the front door, it was obvious that the smoke alarm was going off,” Franke told reporters. “The door was opened and a lot of black smoke came out. We called for Dottie. We didn’t hear a response.”

Franke said that they then took the key and ran around to the back door, where they opened it and more smoke rolled out. They called for her again, still with no response. A fellow neighbor used the flashlight on his phone. That is when they spotted her.

To them, it seemed clear that something nefarious had happened to Sparks. KSP confirmed this later on, quickly ruling that Sparks’ death was a homicide.

As for how he death has affected the community, Franke and others in the surrounding community said that it has kept everyone in the vicinity on high alert. Though the investigative process takes time, they said not having such violent actions accounted for is unnerving.

“It’s very unsettling,” Franke said. “This used to be a community where people felt very safe, and people were very trusting of their neighbors. I suspect that a lot of people in our neighborhood have really changed their practices as it relates to personal security.”

Pastor Steve Fortenberry also recounted the night, noting that people in the following church service were in shock at their fellow member’s death. Fortenberry was present soon after the event, which left many in his congregation stunned.

The two told reporters that even a year after, many are worrying that the culprit could be still at large — even in their community, potentially.

To this day, neighbors and Sparks’ family describe Dorothy as a loving, caring woman. They do not want her to be remembered by the tragedy that occurred, either.

”She was just the kind of person who always had a smile and always acted so glad to see you, no matter who you were,” Dorothy’s daughter, Sarah Walker, said. “She was very positive. She didn’t talk bad about anybody. She was a good mom. I had a wonderful childhood. She and my dad were good parents — they tried to raise us right. Even though she had four children, she would be the scout leader or 4-H Leader. She was devoted to her church as well.”

Walker said that without knowing what happened, it has made it nearly impossible for their family to grieve properly. Though having the details may not bring their mother back, the family feels that it will help them grieve properly and also give them and the community closure.

“It would be good to know who did it, to know why and know that they will be punished properly,” Walker said.

Walker said that her mother’s case was shared by the Hopkinsville-Christian County Crimestoppers, though no tips have been submitted since it was posted. To enhance the reach for potential, the tip line will be expanded to McCracken County and West KY Crimestoppers as well.

Alexa Black is a reporter for the Princeton Times Leader.