Man Says He Accidentally Killed Triplet While Trying to Hug Him

Police say Kenneth Jernigan murdered his own triplet, Kevin. But Jernigan insists he was simply trying to hug his brother when he accidentally fatally stabbed him, the Ledger-Inquirer reports. The Columbus, Ga., 36-year-old said he was cooking at the time and holding a kitchen knife; his triplet appears to have suffered just one stab wound to the chest, though the medical examiner's report is pending. Police were called to the home the morning of August 27 and found Kevin Jernigan dead; the third triplet, Keith Jernigan, told authorities he arrived home after the incident, WLTZ reports. Police say the evidence does not support Kenneth Jernigan's story, WTVM reports. Jernigan has pleaded not guilty.

WTVM reports that all three brothers have criminal records, but a neighbor tells the station he has lived near them for about a year and never expected this. "Those guys would fight frequently, but I don’t want anyone to feel that they were a threat to anyone in the community," he says. "They’re grown men. So you fight like grown men, right? But I would never want to imagine that it would come to this kind of result." (More murder stories.)