In a shocking turn of events, evidence presented in court shed light on the brutal slaying of Kentucky District Judge Mullins allegedly carried out by his longtime friend, Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines. Surveillance footage showed Stines shooting Judge Mullins multiple times in his chambers, causing emotional reactions in the courtroom. Stines surrendered himself to police after the shooting, claiming that they were trying to kidnap his wife and child.
Stines and Mullins had been friends for decades and even had lunch together just hours before the shooting took place inside the Letcher County courthouse. A witness who attended the lunch reported seeing Mullins asking Stines if they needed to meet privately, though the context was not provided. Surveillance video from the chambers captured Stines making calls from both his and Mullins’ phones before approaching the judge and shooting him. The police found Stines’ daughter’s phone number saved in the judge’s phone, leading to further investigation.
While no motive for the shooting was discussed by the defense attorney, speculation arose when authorities hinted at a sex scandal possibly being involved in the murder investigation. Stines had been deposed in a lawsuit where a deputy, Ben Fields, was accused of raping a female prisoner in Mullins’ chambers in exchange for staying out of jail. The sheriff was accused of negligence in supervising the deputy, who was later convicted and sentenced for his crimes. Stines announced his retirement as sheriff after the governor called for his resignation.
The case involving the shooting of Judge Mullins will now proceed to the grand jury for indictment. Stines has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and is currently being held at Leslie County Jail. The investigation is ongoing, with police attempting to interview additional witnesses and examine the cellphones of both Stines and Judge Mullins. The shocking murder has left many in the community horrified by the actions of the sheriff, who was once a respected figure before the events that unfolded in the courthouse.
The details of the alleged murder have sent shockwaves through Letcher County, where both Stines and Mullins were well-known figures. The surveillance footage capturing the shooting has been a key piece of evidence in the case, along with testimony from witnesses regarding the events leading up to the tragic incident. As the investigation continues, more information may come to light regarding the motive behind the shooting and any possible connections to the sex scandal involving the deputy and female prisoner.
