A Kentucky judge, Kevin Mullins, was allegedly shot and killed by former sheriff Shawn ‘Mickey’ Stines in his chambers on September 19, 2024. The incident occurred during a lunch outing between Stines and Mullins, followed by a private conversation where Stines allegedly fired at point-blank range. Stines, who has pleaded not guilty, was found with a blank expression, placing his firearm on a table and claiming his family was being targeted.
According to authorities, the judge’s wife and daughter denied any relationship with Stines, dismissing rumors of a connection. The Courier-Journal reported that Stines’ wife and daughter had no concerns about their safety, and no evidence supported any claims of being kidnapped. Stines had undergone a mental evaluation at the Leslie County Detention Center, revealing he was still in an active state of psychosis and had no recollection of the recent past.
His attorney, Jeremy Bartley, clarified that the phone exchange was a misinterpretation of Stines’ attempts to contact his daughter using the judge’s phone, refuting any relationship between the judge and Stines’ daughter. Stines had been experiencing paranoia about his family’s safety, leading coworkers to advise him to seek medical attention. The shooting followed a civil lawsuit where he was named and deposed, contributing to his mental state.
The grand jury testimony, which briefly surfaced before being sealed, provided insights into Stines’ mental condition and the lack of evidence supporting any relationship between the judge and his family. These revelations have brought attention to the psychological state of individuals in positions of authority and the personal consequences of legal disputes.