PIKEVILLE, Ky. — The defendants in the Amber Spradlin murder trial will go to trial in 18 days.

That is the result of a hearing in the case today.

Spradlin’s body was found June 18, 2023, at the Arkansas Creek home of Prestonsburg dentist Michael McKinney. 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.

Floyd County Commonwealth’s Attorney Brent Turner requested a continuance in the case, saying not all of the DNA evidence has come back from the state crime lab. Michael McKinney’s attorney, Terry Dean Jacobs, and Mullins’ attorney, Whitney O’Neal, both agreed with delaying the trial, but asked the court to release their clients from home incarceration and drug testing requirements.

However, one of M.K. McKinney’s attorneys, Randy O’Neal, objected to any further delay in the case.

In the end, that one objection was all it took for Special Judge Eddy Coleman to make up his mind.

“Well, since Mr. [M.K.] McKinney objected to the trial being continued, it won’t be,” Judge Coleman said. “See you all on May 11.”

Coleman then thanked the parties and left the courtroom.

In his order filed after the hearing, the judge also denied the motions to release Michael McKinney and Josh Mullins from home incarceration.

There is still time for other issues to arise that could delay the case, and several sources close to the case tell Mountain Top News that they believe there is a good chance the trial could still be delayed. But as it stands now, jury selection will begin May 11. The trial is expected to last 3-to-4 weeks.

You can watch a full livestream of the hearing on our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/MountainTopMediaNews/.

A copy of the judge’s order follows: