A Clark County jury found Stephen Gower not guilty of murder in the death of his wife, Christina Gower, after deliberating for around five hours. Christina was found shot to death at the couple's home on Charlestown New Market Road in August 2025, and prosecutors had accused Gower of shooting her with an AR-15 pistol. His defense argued throughout the trial that she died by suicide.
According to WLKY, Gower initially told investigators that his wife had shot herself, but police said his account of events was inconsistent. Court records cited by the station say an autopsy later determined she could not have shot herself. The case went to trial on that central dispute, with jurors hearing testimony from police, crime scene and laboratory analysts, medical experts, and other witnesses before reaching their verdict.
Conflicting Accounts Of How Christina Died
The medical evidence presented at trial pointed in two directions. Per Law&Crime, the coroner concluded through autopsy that the fatal shot came from at least three feet away, which police said made it impossible for Christina to have fired the weapon herself. The outlet also reported that Gower called 911 on Aug. 4, claiming his wife had shot herself, and that police said he gave inconsistent statements about his own whereabouts at the time of the shooting.
The defense countered with its own reconstruction of the scene. A defense consultant identified as Chris Coleman testified that Christina had shot herself in the head with the AR pistol while lying on her back near the bedroom door, according to a report reviewed by Hoodline. That same testimony placed her head roughly 18 inches from the ground and 6 to 9 inches from the wall at the moment of the shot, and the consultant also testified that blood found on Gower's shorts did not indicate he had been near the shooting.
Digital Evidence And A Paid Expert Witness
Testimony also touched on Gower's phone, which investigators had collected during the case. Digital-forensics researcher Dr. Umit Karabiyik testified that it was possible the device had been factory-reset remotely by Gower's employer after it was collected. Karabiyik also disclosed that he was being paid approximately $12,000 by the defense for his time and opinions in the case.
Gower did not take the stand in his own defense. He exercised his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent throughout the proceedings, leaving jurors to weigh the forensic and circumstantial evidence without hearing directly from him. Scientists, investigators and medical experts filled much of the trial's testimony, according to a report from newsandtribune.com, including Dr. William Ralston, who testified before the jury in Jeffersonville.
Defense Reacts To The Verdict
After the jury returned its not-guilty verdict, defense attorney Larry Wilder said the panel had listened carefully to all of the evidence, held the state to its burden of proof, and found that burden had not been met. Wilder said Gower had lived under the accusation for more than a year while grieving Christina, whom he had loved since they were teenagers. He also said the defense was grateful for the jurors' service and care in reaching their decision.
