North Valley Pike, VA — A late-night home invasion in Virginia has left a family grieving and a community in shock after the mother of country music artist Spencer Hatcher was stabbed to death before her husband killed the attacker.
Deadly Attack in the Hatcher Family Home
Authorities said Holly Hatcher, a former teacher, was killed inside the family’s home at 11:58 p.m. on August 3 after being stabbed by an armed intruder. Her husband, Michael Hatcher, then shot and killed the suspect during the violent confrontation.
According to The Tennessean, deputies responded to the scene and found Holly dead and the suspect, Kevin Moses Walker, 41, of Pikesville, Maryland, dead outside the home.
“There’s no way for you to know the trauma and the pain and the unanswered questions that I have, that my three sons, Dane, Spencer and Connor have had,” Michael Hatcher said in a tearful statement.
Sequence of Events
Rockingham County Sheriff Bryan Hutcheson said Walker entered the Hatcher home with a large knife. After stabbing Holly, he attacked Michael, who fought back and moved the struggle outside. Michael was able to retrieve a handgun from his vehicle and fatally shoot Walker.
Investigators later learned:
- Walker rented a campsite on August 1 at Endless Caverns, just 3.3 miles from the Hatchers’ home.
- That same day, he purchased a sleeping bag and a large knife from Walmart.
- On August 2, police responded to an abandoned, damaged vehicle near the caverns, later linking it to Walker.
Sheriff Hutcheson said police also found that Walker had broken into a nearby store but stolen nothing. Drone searches failed to locate him before the fatal encounter.
A Music Career Put on Hold
Spencer Hatcher, 28, is an up-and-coming country and bluegrass musician who grew up in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Known for songs such as “When She Calls Me Cowboy” and “Cold Beer and Common Sense”, Hatcher signed with Stone Country Records in 2024 after recovering from a serious fall.
On social media, he announced the cancellation of upcoming shows in Virginia and Ohio due to a “monumental loss” in his family.
“I hope to make these dates up to my fans in the future. I appreciate everyone that has lent their support to me and my loved ones,” Spencer wrote. “We ask that everyone please respect our family’s privacy at this time.”
Public and Family Grief
In a joint statement on August 7, the Hatcher family and the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office expressed their sorrow. Michael Hatcher called his wife’s homicide a “terrible tragedy” and added:
“There’s going to be questions that will never be answered. But all I can tell you is we’ve cried, we’ve hurt and we’ve hugged and we have found more love than we have ever known existed between us and between you.”
What’s Next for the Investigation
Authorities continue to investigate the motive and circumstances surrounding the home invasion. Sheriff Hutcheson said there is no indication Walker knew the family before the attack.
Hatcher’s next scheduled performance is August 22 at Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint in Nashville, followed by an opening slot for Aaron Tippin in Virginia on November 8 — though it’s unclear whether he will still perform.
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