A popular high school volleyball coach named Keyata Harman was killed in Kentucky in what authorities say was a murder-suicide perpetrated by her husband. Her death rocked the tight-knit county where she lived, and tributes flowed in, calling her a coach and mentor to many.
Police believe that Brian Harman, 54, shot Keyata Harman, 52, the coroner told WLKY. She worked at Bardstown Middle School as a teacher and was the head volleyball coach at a high school in Nelson County, Kentucky.
“She made lasting impressions on countless students and colleagues in her time at Bardstown Middle. Her impact will be felt for years to come,” said Bardstown Middle principal Matt Bartley to WLKY.
Keyata Harman Recently Filed for Divorce From Brian Harman
The television station cited court records as showing that Keyata had filed for divorce from Brian about a month ago. Photos showed a smiling Keyata at work as tributes flowed in.
“Keyata, When I heard the news today, I dropped to my knees, cried, screamed, yelled and prayed to God He would welcome you with the most loving and open arms only He could provide,” a friend wrote in a heartbreaking Facebook post.
“We are so numb right now. this is the hardest reality we will all be faced with. May God protect your babies and grandbabies and hold them strong while they attempt to navigate this world…”
In a November 10 press release, the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office wrote that, at 8:11 a.m. that day, deputies and detectives responded to a home on Harley Drive, about five miles northeast of Bardstown, for a shooting report.
They found “two deceased adults, an adult male and an adult female,” at the scene, and both were pronounced dead by the Nelson County Coroner’s office.
Keyata Harman’s Death Shook Her Small Community ‘to the Core’
Harman’s Facebook page was filled with family and school photos.
A post in a Bardstown, KY, Facebook page described Keyata as a coach, mentor, and beloved teacher, saying her death had shaken the county.
“It is with a heavy heart and profound sadness that we share the devastating news that has shaken the tight-knit community of Bardstown, Kentucky, to its core. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, students, and athletes grieving the unimaginable loss of Keyata Harman and her husband, Brian Harman,” that tribute says.
“She was currently serving as the Head Varsity Volleyball Coach at Bardstown High School. Her impact on the Bardstown Tigers and the Lady Tiger Volleyball community is immeasurable. Before joining Bardstown, she also served as the Head Volleyball Coach at Nelson County High School, leaving a legacy of excellence and sportsmanship across the region,” that post continued.
“To her players, she was more than just a coach on the sidelines; she was a life coach, a mother figure, and a source of unwavering support. To her colleagues, she was a dedicated professional who poured her heart into her work. But most importantly, she was a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother.”
Preliminary findings indicated this was an “isolated incident, and there is no known threat to the broader community,” the Sheriff’s office wrote.
Popular High School Volleyball Coach Killed in Horror Murder-Suicide in Kentucky