Friend of murdered teacher says she 'loved her daughters more than anything'

BARDSTOWN, KY (WAVE) - Several unanswered questions remain after a mother and daughter were found murdered in their Nelson County home. Officers said the bodies of Kathy Netherland, 48, and Samantha Netherland, 16, were found on April 21 by a family member who came to check on them.

"This is something that you couldn't even imagine in your wildest imaginations, nightmares that something like this would ever happen, especially in a community this small," said Amy Kellem, a close friend and co-worker of Kathy Netherland. "She was in school the day before like all the rest of us, and the next day she's gone."

[PREVOIUS STORY: Deaths of mother, daughter in Nelson County ruled double homicide]

Kathy Netherland was a beloved special education teacher at Bardstown Elementary. Samantha was a sophomore at Bardstown High.

"She complimented me and took care of me at school and she was very nice and very patient. I love her," one of Netherland's students said.

[PREVIOUS STORY: Identity of woman found dead inside Nelson Co home released]

Aside from her career, Kathy Netherland was a proud mother of two daughters who were described as great students by fellow teachers. The girls had gone through the loss of their father to cancer less than a year ago.

[PREVIOUS STORY: 2 people found dead of 'trauma' at Nelson County home]

"She loved her daughters more than anything. She was incredibly proud of everything that they did," Kellem recalled.

Samantha was a sophomore who was said to be elated when she got asked to the senior prom. Kathy Netherland was a huge Def Leopard fan. She'd helped the child of one of the band members.

On Facebook some people changed their profile pictures to one of the band, in memory of their friend.

"It seems weird to be talking about an 80's hair band, but she absolutely loved Deaf Leopard and she loved the guys in the band," Kellem said.

Her oldest daughter was away at college at the time of their deaths.

Police have not released the cause of their deaths, only that they both suffered trauma.

Officers have not stated whether they are actively looking for a suspect or not, but so far there have been no arrests made in the case.

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