Who was Western Kentucky University student Katie Autry and what happened to her?
Andrew Hansen
Published Sep 26, 2026
A COMMUNITY was horrified when a local college student was brutally assaulted.
The late Katie Autry was beaten, raped, and set on fire in her own dorm room.
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Who was Western Kentucky University student Katie Autry?
Born on June 10, 1984, Melissa Katie Autry was an 18-year-old college student at Western Kentucky University.
On May 7, 2003, Katie succumbed to third and fourth-degree burns and died at University Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee.
Her foster parents Jim and Shirley Inman and her sister Lisa survived her.
At the time, she was also survived by her mother Donnie Autry, who died 13 years later.
Read More Death in the Dorms
What happened to Katie?
On May 4, 2003, Katie returned to her dorm room after attending a fraternity party.
That night, she was followed home by Stephen Soules and allegedly Lucas Goodrum.
Upon her turning in for the night, Soules raped, robbed, assaulted, and set her on fire.
By the time local authorities and emergency services arrived, Katie was still alive as medics performed CPR on her.
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Three days later, the young victim passed away from her injuries sustained from the tragedy.
Days later on Monday, May 12, Soules and Goodrum were arrested in connection to the horrific ordeal.
Although both were charged, Goodrum was acquitted of the charges against him.
Seven charges were brought against Soules which included:
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- Murder
- First-degree rape with serious physical injury
- First-degree sodomy with serious physical injury
- First-degree complicity arson
- First-degree robbery
- First-degree complicity rape
- First-degree complicity sodomy
On May 13, 2005, Soules was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
He is carrying out his life sentence at Northpoint Training Center in Kentucky.
Katie was buried at Rosin Cemetery, the same final resting place as her mother Donnie.
Read More on The US Sun
How can I watch Death in the Dorms?
Katie's tragedy is retold in the docuseries Death in the Dorms, which is available for streaming via Hulu.
The late victim's eponymous episode serves as the show's finale for its first season.
