Families call man a serial killer after he's linked to 3 Kentucky overdose deaths

WINCHESTER, Ky. (WDRB) -- Three Kentucky women were found dead after meth overdoses, and one man is linked to all three deaths and their families believe there could be more victims.

Reacheal Dawson.jpeg — Reacheal Dawson (family photo)

Brian Epperson is charged with murder in connection to the death of Kristen Morris, who was found dead in an Airbnb he rented in May 2025. Police said he is also linked to the deaths of Hilory Davis in November 2024 and Reacheal Dawson in June 2025, both of whom were found dead in hotel rooms he booked.

Kay Dawson still remembers the last time she saw her younger sister, Reacheal, alive.

"This is my first time being able to look at her obituary," Kay Dawson said.

Reacheal Dawson grew up in Louisville before moving to a rural area outside Lexington, where she lived with her boyfriend and helped raise two children she loved like her own. In June 2025, everything changed. Kay Dawson received a call from her sister's boyfriend saying Dawson went for a walk in their neighborhood and never returned home.

"I never thought when I kissed her at the door that morning that was the last time I'd see her," he said.

Kay Dawson traced her sister's phone to a Red Roof Inn in Winchester about 30 minutes from her home. Hours later, detectives told the family Dawson was dead. A toxicology report found a large amount of meth in her system, though her family says she never used drugs. She had also been sexually assaulted. The room where Dawson was found had been rented by Brian Epperson, a name her family did not recognize — but detectives were familiar with him.

"They were panicked when they heard his name," Kay Dawson said.

Just one month earlier, Epperson was connected to the overdose death of Morris. Court documents show detectives found the same kind of drug capsules in both cases.

"Had they locked him up ... this would've never happened to my sister," Kay Dawson said.

Kay Dawson said Reacheal Dawson had exchanged a few text messages with Epperson and they were planning to meet. Epperson is a contractor, and the Kay Dawson believes Reacheal Dawson thought the meeting was about work on a home. The texts haven't been released to the family, but they heard his search history at a court hearing.

Her boyfriend said it read "How long does it take for the jaw to lock, why doesn't it bother me to watch someone die."

The chief of the Winchester Police Department offered a different view of Epperson's relationship with Reacheal Dawson. He said the two were romantically involved after meeting on a dating app.

Dawson's boyfriend, Thompson, said he'd been planning to propose just weeks after her death. They'd been together seven years.

"I don't get to see her in a wedding dress," he said.

Kay Dawson said she worries there may be more victims.

"I think my sister helped a serial killer get off the streets, because we don't know how long he's been doing this to people," she said.

In addition to the state murder charge, Epperson is also facing federal charges related to distribution of meth. Loved ones hope the charges against Epperson will soon be upgraded. A preliminary hearing was held Tuesday behind closed doors, and the family hasn't been informed of the outcome.

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