Along with a procedural milestone, in the case of Kentucky Sheriff Shawn Stines, comes a tiny hint of disturbing detail. We’ve been closely following the saga of a former lawman who apparently decided to take the law into his own hands, by executing District Judge Kevin Mullins. The judge was also a long-term “friend” who had lunch with his killer just before the shooting. The murder was recorded by a security camera which shows Stines bearing down on the cowering judge and “ruthlessly firing eight rounds at him.” While a motive hasn’t been released, another clue to it dropped along with news of his indictment.
Sheriff faces death penalty
District Judge Kevin Mullins was murdered in his own office by Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines. The rural hamlet of Whitesburg, Kentucky, was rocked by the shockingly brutal execution.
Everybody knows everyone there, and most of them are related. Sometimes, in more than one way. “The men, who were friends for 30 years, had lunch together.”
The latest development in the case relates to an indictment handed down by the local grand jury. Under Kentucky law, killing a judge is an exceptionally heinous crime. One that’s eligible for the death penalty. Sheriff Stines wasn’t charged with common murder.
He’s charged with one count of “murder of a public official.” That, news outlets relate, is “a charge that could land him on death row, if convicted.”
That “if convicted” part is a really big asterisk. The defense team isn’t trying to call the slaying “self-defense” or raising any other outlandish theories. What they are calling it is “a crime of passion.” Attorney Jeremy Bartley argues the shooting happened while his client was experiencing an “extreme emotional disturbance.”
The Sheriff isn’t saying a whole lot about why he was so emotionally disturbed. From information previously available to the public, it’s pretty clear Stines’ daughter was involved. The latest clue adds a twist.
Possible sex scandal
All along, authorities have been suggesting “the murder was being investigated as a possible sex scandal.” They haven’t been convinced to elaborate any more than that. A number of facts have been widely reported, based on the portions of the security video that were released.
The section just ahead of the shooting hasn’t been revealed yet but some of what transpired has leaked out. It indicates the Sheriff knew something involving both the judge and his daughter.
Right before the shooting the sheriff and the judge had a “heated exchange.” Stines placed calls to his daughter. Who’s “under age.” One call came from his own phone. The second was made with the judge’s phone, which conveniently had her number already stored on it.
When the public part of the video begins, Stines points his gun at Mullins, who puts up his hands and begins pleading for his life.
Sheriff Stines opened fire and kept shooting. The last two rounds were fired at close range to make sure his victim wasn’t going to get back up. Then, he calmly walked out of the office and sat down in a reception room chair until taken into custody. “Treat me fair,” he requested of responding police.
The part we’re only learning now was he also added, “they’re trying to kidnap my wife and kid.” That bonus quote from the sheriff has been a closely held secret. Now, everyone wants to know who “they” could be. Stay tuned for more details as they develop.
