PRESTONSBURG, Ky. — Prosecutors are opposing a request by the man charged with killing Amber Spradlin to reduce the financial conditions of his bond and allow him to be released for work while he awaits trial on a murder charge.

Attorneys for M.K. McKinney filed a motion last month making that request.In their motion, they argued that recent DNA test results weakened the case against their client, and that he should not be held under the same strict conditions as a result.

McKinney is charged with murder in the June 18, 2023, death of Spradlin, whose body was found in his father’s home following an overnight party. She had been stabbed at least a dozen times in the head and neck. McKinney is also charged, along with his father, Michael McKinney, and family friend Josh Mullins with multiple counts of evidence tampering for allegedly trying to cover up the crime.

In a response filed Tuesday in Pike Circuit Court, Commonwealth’s Attorney Arnold Brent Turner argues that recently obtained DNA results do not weaken the case against McKinney.

According to the filing, DNA testing confirmed that the victim, Roy Kidd, was the source of DNA found on clothing belonging to Michael McKinney and Mullins. The clothing was taken from the defendants’ bedrooms. The Commonwealth also points to DNA evidence previously obtained from Amber Spradlin’s fingernail clippings. The filing says forensic testing found a major Y-STR DNA profile that matched the male McKinney defendants and their paternal relatives. The Commonwealth says the match was estimated to be 463 times more likely if one of the McKinney defendants or a paternal relative was the source of the DNA.

The filing notes that the fingernail DNA profile did not match Mullins or Kidd.

The Commonwealth also acknowledges that recent testing confirmed blood found on a towel near the kitchen sink belonged to Spradlin. Prosecutors agree with the defense that her killer presumably washed their hands in the sink and wiped them on the towel, but say the evidence does not establish who the killer was.

Regarding work release, prosecutors question whether McKinney has provided enough information about where he intends to work. The Commonwealth argues that, because he is awaiting trial for murder, employment opportunities would be limited and suggests the request could instead be an attempt to allow him to leave custody during the day.

Prosecutors defer to the court on the financial conditions of McKinney’s bond but ask Judge Eddy Coleman to deny his request for work release.

The matter is set to be discussed during the next hearing in the case, scheduled for 2 p.m., Thursday. Mountain Top News will be in the courtroom to livestream the proceedings.

A full copy of the prosecution’s response follows: