Kentucky - Judge killed, sheriff arrested in Letcher County courthouse shooting - Sep. 19, 2024 # 2

[tlcya]

the murder case against Shawn "Mickey" Stines is now in the hands of a grand jury for a potential indictment.
[snip]
Video footage places Stines and Mullins inside the judge's chambers later that day, according to investigators. In his testimony, Stamper said Stines subsequently made phone calls from his own phone as well as Mullins'. Those calls, Stamper testified, were to Stines' daughter. The video shown at the Oct. 1 hearing did not include audio and did not show the calls.

After those calls were placed, police say Stines committed the shooting.
Former Sheriff Mickey Stines' murder case moves forward. What to know, timeline of events

 

[Boxer]

Yes, but I still think that phrase wasn't referring to a literal kidnapping but rather some situation where he felt his daughter (and possibly wife? whether as a separate situation or because the wife was standing by the daughter) was doing something with/for the judge or at the judge's request/advice/recommendation and he interpreted it as the daughter taking the judge's side as opposed to staying with him.

As I mentioned in an earlier post this could be as inappropriate as a too-personal relationship with the judge, or more along the lines of being persuaded by the judge to do something such as change churches, pursue a different career path, or as others have said, she/they possibly had turned to the judge for advice/assistance in dealing with her father's increasing mental instability.

Any of those things or similar could trigger an emotional rage reaction, especially in an already mentally unstable person.

MOO

Shooting him and then shooting him again. Murder.
I hope Kentucky isn't soft or corrupt in prosecuting this.

 

[OldAce]

Just floating a question I have. Details of this "fatal accident" may be connected. The accident; Stines putting a blackout order on it to his staff, his actions and commentary on "people may criticize", seem to be a possible generating point in time. What kind of accident, hunting, auto wreck, machinery operation? Who was killed, and their rep/history/position in the community? Could it not have been accidental and Stines had questions?

Looked this accident up and it is sort of curious in itself. All I could find was this.
Car wreck is fatal to Stamper, 72 - The Mountain Eagle
It does not identify or state condition of driver of the colliding vehicle. Just a " lifted" Dodge pickup. Further Googles and other search engines only found basic repeats of that report. Weird too, man killed was named Larry Stamper. KSP detective testifying in Stines hearing was named Clayton Stamper. Now, I am curious to learn the name of this "lifted" Dodge pickup.

 

[LadyL]

They knew each other well. I don't believe they were best friends. Both were members of the same party and were on the ballot at the same time, so they likely attended events together socially. And then as elected officials, once again there are numerous social events that occur in addition to work. (Christmas events for example) IOW, they ran in the same circles quite a bit.

Sheriff was also Mullin's bailiff for many years.

 

[Luna20]

After the shooting what did Stines take out of that backpack that was on the desk on his way out the door? Has anything conclusive been mentioned?

 

[GoBuckeyes]

They knew each other well. I don't believe they were best friends. Both were members of the same party and were on the ballot at the same time, so they likely attended events together socially. And then as elected officials, once again there are numerous social events that occur in addition to work. (Christmas events for example) IOW, they ran in the same circles quite a bit.

Stines was the Judge's bailiff for years, up until he was elected Sheriff. That's what was reported often shortly after the incident. I would think that they would be moderately close, at least, spending that kind of time together in a small town/court system. moo

 

[Kemug]

I wonder what type of "episode" MS meant during the deposition?

An episode of...
anxiety?
forgetfulness?
jitters?
loss of concentration?
needing nicotine (or other)?
medical something?
???

Imo.

Maybe not an actual "episode", but are there diet pills that need to be taken often and regularly for weight loss? And if so, what might they do to a person's mind? Do we have any weight loss medics here?

 

[sds71]

Sheriff Billy Jones was appointed on October 1, following the resignation of Mickey Stines who is accused of murder in the shooting death of District Judge Kevin Mullins at the Courthouse.

Jones was formerly the school resource officer at Letcher County Central High School.

He tells WYMT he is working to hire more deputies since he had to replace himself with a new school resource officer and recently had a deputy resign for another job.

And he says Letcher County Circuit Court Judge James Craft has asked for more court security at the Courthouse which means, in addition to a new metal detector, more officers will now be located there.

New Letcher County Sheriff Says Security Upgrades Coming To The Courthouse | The Bulldog 103.9 FM | 103.9 The Bulldog | Whitesburg-KY

Letcher County’s new Sheriff says there are some security upgrades coming to the Letcher County Courthouse. Sheriff Billy Jones was appointed on October 1, ...

1039thebulldog.com

 

[GoBuckeyes]

After the shooting what did Stines take out of that backpack that was on the desk on his way out the door? Has anything conclusive been mentioned?

Do you have a snippet of that portion of the video? I haven't seen or noticed him taking anything. TIA

 

[Boxer]

I wonder why it hadn’t been collected sooner. It could be the “smoking gun” in this case. (no pun intended)

Unfortunatley, not collecting relevant evidence is often a red flag of the initiation of a cover up.

 

[tlcya]

I wonder why it hadn’t been collected sooner. It could be the “smoking gun” in this case. (no pun intended)

because thus far the only ones saying there was some sort of inappropriate activity around Stines' daughter are anonymous people on the internet inserting themselves into a case? Because the sheriff made a call dialing said daughter's phone from the victim's? A call that wasn't answered by said daughter? Because the number was not as first reported programed in the victim's phone as a stored contact? Because close Stine family members haven't posted online seeming to rebut that rumor?

 

[Seattle1]

because thus far the only ones saying there was some sort of inappropriate activity around Stines' daughter are anonymous people on the internet inserting themselves into a case? Because the sheriff made a call dialing said daughter's phone from the victim's? A call that wasn't answered by said daughter? Because the number was not as first reported programed in the victim's phone as a stored contact? Because close Stine family members haven't posted online seeming to rebut that rumor?

During defense questioning of Investigator Stamper (during the prelim hearing), I recall the Commonwealth Objected to the inquiry -- citing there wasn't probable cause to take the daughter's phone and/or records, which I think explained Stamper's comment about any calls from the phone of the teen to Mullins would also be present on the Judge's phone which was in the possession of the KY forensic lab. MOO

 

[tlcya]

During defense questioning of Investigator Stamper (during the prelim hearing), I recall the Commonwealth Objected to the inquiry -- citing there wasn't probable cause to take the daughter's phone and/or records, which I think explained Stamper's comment about any calls from the phone of the teen to Mullins would also be present on the Judge's phone which was in the possession of the KY forensic lab. MOO

exactly. thanks for articulating way better than I

 

[Seattle1]

After the shooting what did Stines take out of that backpack that was on the desk on his way out the door? Has anything conclusive been mentioned?

Was there a new video of the shooting released since the preliminary hearing? Please link!

If not, clearly, Stines is holding his weapon with both hands in those final moments when he fires beneath the desk before exiting.

No signs of the defendant interacting with either backpack seen on Mullins desk from the video played during the hearing.

 

[jepop]

During defense questioning of Investigator Stamper (during the prelim hearing), I recall the Commonwealth Objected to the inquiry -- citing there wasn't probable cause to take the daughter's phone and/or records, which I think explained Stamper's comment about any calls from the phone of the teen to Mullins would also be present on the Judge's phone which was in the possession of the KY forensic lab. MOO

Makes perfect sense to me. Imo, not time to over-read and over-speculate on minutiae when there is limited knowledge re direction of investigation at prelim. It's hardly surprising to me at least, that at the time of the prelim, LE did not have PC to get a search warrant on the daughter's phone! Very early days, and ofcourse as pointed out already, prelim served its limited purpose of getting charges of what I feel will be first degree murder before the Grand Jury. All imoo.

 

[LMDlong]

After the shooting what did Stines take out of that backpack that was on the desk on his way out the door? Has anything conclusive been mentioned?

I seen this also . Have not been able to find it .

 

[tlcya]

the video as seen in court

IMO Stines never even touches the backpack

 

[Ontario Mom]

After the shooting what did Stines take out of that backpack that was on the desk on his way out the door? Has anything conclusive been mentioned?

I can't seem to find a version of the video that shows him touching the back pack.
On his way out the door, he reaches for the door knob then turns around one more time and with both hands gripping the gun, he fires again. Then turns around, and walks out the door.

 

[Seattle1]

IMO Stines never even touches the backpack

Same. And why I thought OP must be referring to a later released video!

ETA: Calling it "double grip." The baseless rumor ends now.

 

[tlcya]

Same. And why I thought OP must be referring to a later released video!

it may appear that way when he leans in to see if Mullins is dead and delivers the last two shots. his hands (with gun in them) is very near to it for those last couple of shots. MOO