PRESTONSBURG, Ky. — The judge over the Amber Spradlin murder trial has agreed with a request to release Michael McKinney from home incarceration, but he denied his request to end random drug testing.

Spradlin’s body was found June 18, 2023, at McKinney’s Arkansas Creek home. McKinney’s son, M.K. McKinney, has been charged with her murder, while both McKinneys and family friend Josh Mullins are charged with multiple counts of evidence tampering for allegedly trying to cover up the crime.

After Special Judge Eddy Coleman delayed the trial until January, Michael McKinney’s attorney, Terry Dean Jacobs, indicated he would ask for him to be released from home incarceration. That motion was filed May 21 and also included a request to end drug testing, saying it was disruptive to his business and left patients waiting for up to two hours whenever he was called to test.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Brent Turner responded by saying he spoke with Spradlin’s family, and they agreed to the release, saying it would be better than allowing him to build up another eight months’ worth of jail credit at home against any potential prison sentence he might receive. Turner further said he would leave the matter of drug testing up to the judge’s discretion.

Friday afternoon, Judge Coleman agreed to lift home incarceration. However, the judge said all remaining conditions of Michael McKinney’s release, including random drug testing, would remain in place.

Mullins’ attorney, Whitney Danielle O’Neal, has also indicated she would ask for her client’s release from home incarceration, and attorneys for M.K. McKinney have said they would seek an unspecified modification of his release. However, no motions regarding those clients have yet been filed.

All three defendants are set to go to trial Jan. 11.

A copy of the judge’s order follows: