Shipman
Nelson County, Virginia
Updated : 4.19.25 – 7:30 PM
Verbatim from NCSO
“Lovingston, VA – Over the past twenty-four hours, Nelson County Investigators have been working in collaboration with other jurisdictions to locate the individual who is currently ‘Wanted’ by our agency in connection to the homicide of Mr. Kevin Scott Small of Shipman, Virginia.
The suspect in this case is identified as Ms. Katelynn Ann Hipes, a 22-year old female, who is a life-long resident of Augusta County, Virginia. Ms. Hipes currently has outstanding Felony Warrants for her arrest for the following offenses:
• Second Degree Murder
• Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony
In an effort to protect the ‘Integrity’ of the investigation, it was not plausible to release Ms. Hipes’s name during yesterday’s Press Release. The timing of that release may have ‘jeopardized’ our attempts to locate Ms. Hipes during the overnight hours, as well as hindered several components of the investigation, despite warrants having already been obtained.
We would like to re-iterate that Ms. Hipes IS NOT currently in the Nelson County community, nor has she been since prior to yesterday’s Press Release. Our office has been in direct communication with the law enforcement agencies serving the jurisdictions that Ms. Hipes may presently be located in. Those agencies are working diligently with our office to locate and apprehend Ms. Hipes.
A photograph of Ms. Hipes is attached. We encourage anyone who knows her current location, or that may have any information that will lead to the arrest of Ms. Hipes, to please contact the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Mark E. Embrey”
Original post:
On Friday, April 18, 2025, Nelson County Deputies responded to a private residence in the Shipman-area of Nelson County for a report of an ‘unresponsive’ male subject. Upon arrival, Deputies located an ‘unresponsive’ male subject that was found outside of the residence who had a single gunshot-wound to the chest cavity. The male was pronounced deceased at the scene by EMS personnel who also responded to this address.
The victim has been identified as Mr. Kevin Scott Small of Shipman, Virginia. Due to the nature of this case and the pace of the ongoing investigation, our Office has identified a single suspect and obtained the following felony arrest warrants for this individual:
Second Degree Murder
Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony
At this time, the suspect is still at-large, and is no longer believed to be in Nelson County. At this time, there is no threat to the Nelson County community. Our Office will continue to provide updates to this case as the investigation is fluid and will continue to develop.
Sheriff Mark E. Embrey
