Vacation Turned Tragic in Red River Gorge | Lexington News

A man named Troy Dunkelberger just received a 20-year sentence for shooting his friend Jarron Slayback during a heated argument on vacation—claiming he thought Slayback was reaching for a gun, when it was actually a flashlight. After being convicted of first-degree manslaughter in 2023, the Kentucky Supreme Court overturned the verdict in 2025, ruling that the judge improperly told the jury Dunkelberger could be seen as the “initial aggressor.” The case was sent back to trial, where the jury again found him guilty and recommended the maximum sentence. Judge Lisa Whisman finalized the 20-year term this week, with Dunkelberger required to serve at least 85% before parole eligibility—a stark reminder of how legal proceedings can twist and turn even in tragic, high-stakes cases. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/851d6c2f86b9cc60