Kentucky - Judge killed, sheriff arrested in Letcher County courthouse shooting - Sep. 19, 2024 # 4

[cocomod]

ETA: It took several weeks, possibly even a month, for the meds to kick in and get my family member out of psychosis. So, I believe that Stines could possibly have been in psychosis even weeks after the murder.

 

[wackyw]

The Commonwealth and its witness do not disclose that the same records from the day before the shooting, his doctor diagnosed an "acute stress reaction".

Those evaluations included observations of "active psychosis." He had been given Risperadal and Seroquel by the jail prior to the exams, as noted in the medical record.




It does sound like he was a ticking time bomb and his family and doctor knew this and tried to help him. I am not certain he is acting. Psychosis is real and I watched a family member go through it.

My family member didn't come out of it for almost 2 months because the jail didn't give him any meds while he was incarcerated. We took him straight to an institute from the jail; and they put him on the same meds (Risperadal and Seroquel). For one whole month in jail, he didn't know which way was up. The jailers even took pity on him. It wasn't until the meds took affect that he came out of it. At the time, we were told he may never recover, but I am happy to say that he did.

Off topic, but Seroquel ! That's a blast from the past for me. I took part in a clinical trial for that in 1994! I remember that the doses were 1/30th of the actual proposed dose.

 

[tlcya]

ETA: It took several weeks, possibly even a month, for the meds to kick in and get my family member out of psychosis. So, I believe that Stines could possibly have been in psychosis even weeks after the murder.

I have waffled between psychosis and crazy like a fox, but currently I m on the psychosis side of the fence. Like you I've seen psychosis up close and personal with a family member.

What we saw from him on the drive to the neighboring county jail after the shooting combined with what we are now hearing about his behaviors and comments in the days and hours prior to the shooting has me on that side of the fence. I recognize the disordered thought processes he seems to have been experiencing.

 

[worm]

Well I’m sorry but I respectfully oppose and I think that whatever he and his lawyers want to use as an excuse, he should have loads of time to take it up with the prison psychiatrist. I noticed that he was dressed well, very capable of firearm use as shown by the trained stance that he used while continuously firing bullets into a helpless man, and his legal chat of fairness, all of which show that he knew the deal. I just don’t see it.

 

[Insightful1]

Here is the “ Brief in support of motion to dismiss indictment” which includes Grand Jury testimony. Posted with permission from Tricia Griffith.

 

[fsngruv]

I have waffled between psychosis and crazy like a fox, but currently I m on the psychosis side of the fence. Like you I've seen psychosis up close and personal with a family member.

What we saw from him on the drive to the neighboring county jail after the shooting combined with what we are now hearing about his behaviors and comments in the days and hours prior to the shooting has me on that side of the fence. I recognize the disordered thought processes he seems to have been experiencing.

I agree. Psychosis makes the parts that don't make sense make sense. Lol. If that makes sense? Psychosis explains the things he said, his actions, and doesn't mean the judge was nefarious or something happened to the sheriff's daughter, explains why his daughter has said nothing happened to her and she never spoke to the judge. Definitely doesn't remove him being guilty of a crime, to me. You can be crazy and still be criminal. I think the sheriff both was here.

 

[tlcya]

I mean, psychosis or no, the man shot down a man in cold blood, on video no less. It is for a court to decide after hearing all the evidence, if the shooter was guilty or innocent or not guilty due to mental defect, right?

Grand juries aren't qualified to make those determinations. Their job, as I understand it, is to determine if the evidence supports that someone should be charged with a crime not whether that individual is guilty, not guilty, insane, kinda guilty but to a lesser degree, etc.

 

[Tricia]

Join us tonight on Websleuths YouTube Live as we dig in to the latest Grand Jury documents released in the Stines case. We will also hear from a local who has some very interesting information. We go live at 10:30 PM Eastern
CLICK HERE TO JOIN US TONIGHT

 

[Trebor5591]

(Poor memory/ age 90 as of 9/3/2025)

Happy birthday OldAce!!!

 

[worm]

Court TV is on this case now with one of the women involved.

 

[worm]

Court TV is on this case now with one of the women involved.

 

[fred&edna]

i like jeremy bartley and his legal filings. i trust bartley far more than dotson and/or pillardorf.

jmo

 

[LadyL]

The Commonwealth and its witness do not disclose that the same records from the day before the shooting, his doctor diagnosed an "acute stress reaction".

Those evaluations included observations of "active psychosis." He had been given Risperadal and Seroquel by the jail prior to the exams, as noted in the medical record.




It does sound like he was a ticking time bomb and his family and doctor knew this and tried to help him. I am not certain he is acting. Psychosis is real and I watched a family member go through it.

My family member didn't come out of it for almost 2 months because the jail didn't give him any meds while he was incarcerated. We took him straight to an institute from the jail; and they put him on the same meds (Risperadal and Seroquel). For one whole month in jail, he didn't know which way was up. The jailers even took pity on him. It wasn't until the meds took affect that he came out of it. At the time, we were told he may never recover, but I am happy to say that he did.

[bbm]

am I understanding correctly that he was diagnosed the day before the shooting?

 

[charliethecat]

Now that Brian Entin is on this case, I think he will force some answers from both the State Police and the AG's office about the earlier investigation that led to the criminal indictment of Ben Fields, and he won't hesitate to inquire whether or not the investigation expanded to include Judge Mullins.

However, before the conspiracies and click-bait trailers for News Nation get out of control, I must caution that BE's producer, Alison Weiner, is spreading some false information specific to the civil suit. In the last YT I viewed, she claimed that Ben Fields was the perp who assaulted the plaintiffs-- which is true, but also claimed that Mickey Stines was singled out when he was named in the lawsuit personally, and how targeting Stines is what led to his shooting of Mullins. First, this comment is blatantly false! Whereas Fields was named in the civil suit both individually and in his official capacity as a Deputy of the Letcher County Sheriff's Office, Mickey Stines was only named in the civil suit in his Official Capacity as Letcher County Sheriff.

Take note that it's long understood that Official-capacity suits are simply “another way of pleading an action against an entity of which an officer is an agent.” Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 166 (1985). This was further represented by the Court's action on 4/3/2025-- after Mickey Stines resigned as Sheriff from Letcher County, the Court ordered Billy Jones substituted as the successor to Mickey Stines.

8/19/25

Judge's murder exposes secret sex ring in small Kentucky town -- Sheriff accused of killing Judge​

'Take note that it's long understood that Official-capacity suits are simply “another way of pleading an action against an entity of which an officer is an agent.” Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 166 (1985). '

Or another way of looking at official capacity suits is the concept of 'deep pockets'. You sue the employers of those working in an official capacity because they are likely to have access to $$$$, hence deeper pockets than people being sued in a personal capacity. So Sherriff Stines would have been deposed in his official capacity in an effort to show that the sins of the deputy were not only personal but also linked to possibly poor control by those in charge of him in a work situation. So the case if proved would lie against the employer of both Stines and the deputy..

 

[CuriousDetective]

ETA: It took several weeks, possibly even a month, for the meds to kick in and get my family member out of psychosis. So, I believe that Stines could possibly have been in psychosis even weeks after the murder.

My immediate family member suddenly developed psychosis about 8 years ago. She was perfectly “normal” (albeit stressed with work pressure) one day, and delusional the next. Unfortunately she has remained treatment resistant with no medications being able to shift the delusional state so far.

So yes, I also believe Stines could have been delusional for some time after the murder.

I work in mental health also and in my experience it takes much longer than a few days or weeks for most people to exit an episode, and many never fully do.

 

[CuriousDetective]

I agree. Psychosis makes the parts that don't make sense make sense. Lol. If that makes sense? Psychosis explains the things he said, his actions, and doesn't mean the judge was nefarious or something happened to the sheriff's daughter, explains why his daughter has said nothing happened to her and she never spoke to the judge.

100% agree with this part.

 

[CuriousDetective]

Well I’m sorry but I respectfully oppose and I think that whatever he and his lawyers want to use as an excuse, he should have loads of time to take it up with the prison psychiatrist. I noticed that he was dressed well, very capable of firearm use as shown by the trained stance that he used while continuously firing bullets into a helpless man, and his legal chat of fairness, all of which show that he knew the deal. I just don’t see it.

I respectfully disagree with this. Just because someone is in psychosis doesn’t mean they always dress chaotically and they don’t forget how to use things they are extensively trained in, or their legal knowledge. That would be more of a dissociate fugue, not psychosis.

That document released by his defence certainly does outline behaviours leading up and after that very much sound like active psychosis with delusions of paranoia.

 

[girlhasnoname]

Court records show more details about former sheriff charged with murder of district judge

Attorneys submitted several briefs and motions this week.

www.wymt.com

9/4/25

I think the good ole' boy Sheriff was caught up in some dirt himself regarding the civil lawsuit against his Deputy and was under pressure. There is no way that I believe his 'crazy psychotic' act right after the shooting though.

He sat there calmly speaking with the Judge for a few moments after just coming back from lunch with him and then stood up and executed him. Maybe he asked his friend the Judge for some help covering up and the Judge refused? The reason I wonder is because the Judge requested to have cameras installed in his own office.

Something is rotten for sure, but I do not believe what the Sheriff and the Defense is trying to sell.

jmo

 

[tlcya]

[bbm]

am I understanding correctly that he was diagnosed the day before the shooting?

what confuses me and of course we won't know for sure unless provided with the medical report which won't happen, is this: IF as the defense attorney suggests, the Dr. visit report from the day prior to the shooting says very clearly the man who was the top LEO in the county was experiencing active psychosis, why in the H E double hockey sticks was he still walking around with access to weapons???

Does a physician have any sort of legal duty to report such findings in a circumstance like this?

 

[tlcya]

The fact is, both Judge Kevin Mullins and Sheriff Mickey Stines held positions that made a lot of people mad, and for people in those positions there will always be rumors of wrongdoing, whether or not they’re true. And there will always be people looking to gain something – freedom or money – by telling police what they want to hear.

If someone out there has proof of the rumors they’re spreading, we’d love to see it. Unless and until that happens, all we can do is wait.
Courthouse murder case shows why we won’t print social media ‘reports’ without verification - The Mountain Eagle

The Mountain Eagle has been a go to news source for me since this case first broke. And the above is one of the reasons.