Kentucky - Judge killed, sheriff arrested in Letcher County courthouse shooting - Sep. 19, 2024

[PrairieWind]

"I was told Sheriff Stines tried to call his daughter, and tried to call his daughter from the judge's phone also," Kentucky State Police Det. Clayton Stamper said.

New details revealed in court about what happened before Kentucky sheriff fatally shot judge

Former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn "Mickey" Stines appeared in court on Tuesday and is facing a murder charge.

www.whas11.com

During the preliminary hearing, Stamper said Mullins and Stines met for lunch earlier on the day of the shooting. He said after lunch Mullins made a comment to Stines about meeting later in private in his chambers.
When the meeting happened, Stines was seated when he asked Mullins for his phone and tried to call his daughter.
He said Stines stood up "seconds" after seeing the judge's phone and began shooting.
Stamper said the phones are with KSP's forensics lab and he is not yet aware of what was on the devices at the time of the shooting.

I wonder if the daughter's number on the Judge's phone was under a false contact name and the Sheriff was aware. But the Judge denied it. The Sheriff used the Judge's phone to call the daughter's number, showing it was under a fake name, thus implying it was for some sort of secret purpose. When daughter's phone or voice mail answered......

 

[Chimera]

I think Stamper's testimony was unclear - he'd been hesitant to speak to anything regarding phones and phone analysis and when he confirmed that Stines did in fact call his daughter from Mullins phone, it's being assumed that daughter was a saved contact in Mullins phone by Mullins. There's no evidence of this at this time -- only that Stines called his daughter using Mullins phone.

Rbm.
Thanks for clarifying. ^^^

I thought this fact came from the video of today's hearing; but wasn't 100 % certain.
You're correct it may not be important to this case , but it could be construed as not being a good look, iykwim ?
Omo.

 

[Seattle1]

Bbm.
Very possible.
He was unraveling perhaps and believe things were happening -- that, in actuality -- were not occurring at all ?
I'm also interested in some of Stine's dealings with perps and people in general during his tenure as a sheriff ?
Anyone going to come forward now, with what they may have perceived as unjust or shady dealings ?
Omo.

Stines is a large man, some reports citing his weight in excess of 300#. I've wondered if he started taking diet Rx or the non FDA compounds which may have triggered something unintended. One need not go far to read the negatives of the latest miracle drugs to the stars.

Just the same, I'm also wondering about Judge Mullins and his good deeds with recovery versus jail. Recent reports are that the very same Addition Recover Centers (ARC), a for profit organization frequented by inmates sentenced my Mullins (transportation by Stines) is under Federal Investigation for Insurance fraud.

I'm seeing some familiar names previously reported in this case including the Attorney General and the KY Governor. The founder of ARC, Tim Robinson -- a lawyer and recovered alcoholic who started the company that became ARC in 2010, has emerged as a politically well-connected figure and major political donor.

IMO, it would not be shocking to learn Judge Mullins was receiving kickbacks for sending addicts to ARC verus sentencing then to jail, and justify this as a win-win!

I dunno... perhaps if the most powerful politcos in the state were trying to get to Stines to cover for Mullins (in this federal investigation) by threatening Stines family, perhaps this might cause some bullets to fly Mullins way.

Just speculating after realizing things in KY are not always as what they seem... MOO

FBI investigating alleged fraud at Addiction Recovery Care

No charges have been brought against ARC at this time.

www.wkyt.com

Addiction recovery company under FBI investigation reducing staff, blames reimbursement cuts • Kentucky Lantern

Kentucky’s largest provider of drug and alcohol treatment is cutting staff and restructuring services, citing significant cuts in Medicaid reimbursement.

kentuckylantern.com

 

[Chimera]

According to Stamper, the judge and sheriff were at lunch earlier that day with a group, and at one point, Mullins asked Stines if they needed to meet privately.

Questioning from both sides revealed that while in chambers, Stines asked to see the judge's phone.

Stamper says Stines called his own daughter from Mullins' phone, and her phone "number was on there." Stamper said Stines shot the judge just seconds later.

Detective: Kentucky sheriff called his own daughter on judge’s phone 'seconds' before shooting

A preliminary hearing for a Kentucky sheriff accused of killing a judge revealed more details about what happened that day and hinted at some possible motives.

www.wlky.com

The detective said they have not yet looked at Stines' daughter's phone, but she has made statements to police about her conversations with Mullins.

He also said that an officer told him Stines made this comment right after the shooting, “They’re trying to kidnap my wife and kid."

…

Exactly what I heard.

Bbm.
Sorry if this was discussed and I missed it ... but how did Stamper know that Stines called his daughter from Mullin's phone if only Stines and Mullins were in the judges' chambers -- aka a little cramped back closet with a small desk and two folding chairs ?
That was indeed an odd 'chamber' for a judge.
I expected something larger and fancier.
Omo.

 

[Elley Mae]

I think when the Sheriff called his daughter she didn't pick up but when he called with from the judge's phone, she picked up? IMO

I had the same thought.


Eta that is why I pick out paragraphs/sentences from articles.

Glad you see what i see.

 

[LadyL]

Bbm.
Sorry if this was discussed and I missed it ... but how did Stamper know that Stines called his daughter from Mullin's phone if only Stines and Mullins were in the judges' chambers -- aka a little cramped back closet with a small desk and two folding chairs ?
That was indeed an odd 'chamber' for a judge.
I expected something larger and fancier.
Omo.

it can't even be called an office, much less 'chambers' - it literally looks like a closet that they quickly threw random furniture in temporarily

I know it's a small town but ...

 

[Seattle1]

Bbm.
Sorry if this was discussed and I missed it ... but how did Stamper know that Stines called his daughter from Mullin's phone if only Stines and Mullins were in the judges' chambers -- aka a little cramped back closet with a small desk and two folding chairs ?
That was indeed an odd 'chamber' for a judge.
I expected something larger and fancier.
Omo.

This would have been easily confirmed by phone records and phone forensics. IMO, Stamper was a terrible witness and could have made this more clear in his testimony.

 

[bestill]

The phone call discussion starts at 36:30 of the video. Sheriff calls his daughters phone from his phone and then calls her from the Mullins phone " daughters number was on the phone?"..."that number had been called from the Judge's phone?" answer "Yes" to both

 

[bestill]

This would have been easily confirmed by phone records and phone forensics. IMO, Stamper was a terrible witness and could have made this more clear in his testimony.

He was evasive about that and other things, imo.

 

[acehard]

He was evasive about that and other things, imo.

Yeah they obviously know everything. It's not being revealed to the public yet

 

[fred&edna]

My take on the prelim today was if lead investigator Clayton Stamper, KSP hadn't been so obstinate/evasive -- the hearing would have concluded in 8 minutes! Hearsay is admissible during a prelim and I don't know why the self described lead investigator was refusing to say what he heard from others on the case!

Also, found it interesting that a non-sworn sheriff's office employee (who appeared to me be Stiles secretary) voluntarily gave her phone to police containing texts from Stines about his lunch with Mullins, yet the daughter's phone and/or records is not in police custody. Certainly not because probable cause is lacking, right? Why not exclude her phone instead of acting (or being inactive) only to perpetuate rumors surrounding the case from the beginning!

Unlike most States where there's either a Preliminary Hearing or a Grand Jury but NOT both, Kentucky's tiered court system (i.e., lower or District Court before moving to Circuit Court for Trial) provided for both where the mini Prelim ruled in favor of probable cause to hand the case over to a Grand Jury. Hearing these words today from the District Court Judge versus hearing 'the case bound over for trial' just sounded so strange to me. MOO

ITA... specifically first two paragraphs, and emphasizes my lack of confidence in the KSP to investigate. I know investigations take time but already there is certainly cause for concern.

jmo

ETA: I wish this wasn't my opinion

 

[Teche]

I think there are so many reasons that the daughter & judge could have had each other's phone numbers. Way more innocent reasons than nefarious ones. (Emergency contact, babysitting, school/team sponsorships, families were supposedly friends so even just that, etc.)

I think MS decided something was fishy & let himself stew for awhile until he created something in his mind. It festered & he decided an execution was in order.

I was also kind of astonished to hear that LE had not yet questioned the daughter without a parent (her mom) present.

Imo.

I believe the texts and pictures could possibly be revealing. Having the contact numbers may not be important but what is contained in those posts/texts.

 

[Seattle1]

ITA... specifically first two paragraphs, and emphasizes my lack of confidence in the KSP to investigate. I know investigations take time but already there is certainly cause for concern.

jmo

In this case, at least the charges will ultimately be by indictment which will come from a secret grand jury that will include subpoenas and witness testimony so I hope the KSP investigation feels the pressure of citizen eyeballs (jurors) watching. And if they are not satisfied with KSP, that's the benefit of their subpoena power and I hope that they use it. JMO

 

[BrownRice]

it can't even be called an office, much less 'chambers' - it literally looks like a closet that they quickly threw random furniture in temporarily

I know it's a small town but ...

Right? I pictured the judges chamber to be dark wood, book shelves, Tiffany lamps. Not a janitorial closet.

 

[bestill]

I thought I read that the investigation is being handled by the state and not local LE, am I confused?

 

[acehard]

Did they say if it was the Sheriff's phone? Maybe he brought his daughters phone and called it from the Judge's phone. IMO

 

[worm]

I’m not really concerned with motives as I don’t think the sheriff, who should be well acquainted with that concept of innocence/guilt, should know that vigilante justice is wrong, thinks he can overcome what he does on that video. I could be wrong but I think it’s over for the sheriff.

 

[Teche]

COMPLETE SPECULATION: What if daughter and or wife of sheriff had reached out to MS' long time friend and associate the Judge with concerns around his change in behaviors (taking down the sheriff dept FB page/being more quiet and uncommunicative), stressing over civil suit and depo, drastic reported weight loss in just a matter of weeks, etc. If either had been in contact with the judge out of concern and MS found out they were discussing him, could he have considered that a betrayal or the judge trying to "take" his family?

I grew up in a village in a parish where it is extremely rural and sparsely populated. Our sheriffs in the area get sued all the time and is usually not a big deal. Somehow, I believe this killing is not a result of a lawsuit.

 

[OldAce]

Did they say if it was the Sheriff's phone? Maybe he brought his daughters phone and called it from the Judge's phone. IMO

I think the Sheriff had his daughters phone; had reviewed it in detail, and may have set this up to prove actually the numbers (if fake) were the ones being used. So get the judges phone press "Eliza", and daughters phone rings. Then bango...

 

[GoBuckeyes]

I disagree currently about the extreme emotional defense bit.

But I would like to get your car thoughts on the bit Stines said about "they are trying to abduct kidnap my wife and kid" business and how that factors in to the idea that his motive (whether he was correct or not) seems to be about his daughter. Because that has me stymied and I cannot for the life of me figure out what MS may have meant by making that statement upon turning himself in.

Beats the heck outta me! Who are the "they" in his statement?