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PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A West Virginia man who pleaded guilty to helping dispose of a body this summer appeared in court for sentencing Friday in Kentucky.
33-year-old Okey Lee Hinkle of Delbarton, West Virginia, was sentenced Friday in Pike Circuit Court before Special Judge Tom Smith.
In June, Kentucky State Police received a call from the Mingo County Sheriff’s Office requesting assistance locating a subject that had been reported missing to their department. KSP Troopers and Mingo County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a residence on Turkey Creek Road in Pike County. A search warrant was obtained, and investigators located a body buried in a shallow grave. The body was later identified as 69-year-old Sam Kimberlain of Williamson, West Virginia, who was the missing person out of Mingo County.
31-year-old Jennifer Blankenship, of Turkey Creek, and Hinkle were arrested in connection to Kimberlain’s death.
Blankenship was charged with murder. She pleaded not guilty. Hinkle was charged with tampering with physical evidence and abuse of a corpse. In November, Hinkle pleaded guilty to the charges in Pike Circuit Court. Hinkle’s conviction came by way of a plea agreement, requiring he testify against Jennifer Blankenship in the case.
Friday, Hinkle was sentenced to 3 years in prison for tampering with physical evidence and 12 months for abuse of a corpse. Both will run concurrently.