PRESTONSBURG, Ky. — The prosecutor in the Amber Spradlin murder trial tells Mountain Top News he will file a motion for a continuance tomorrow, in order to give the State Crime Lab time to complete DNA testing of blood evidence.
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.
All three men are currently scheduled to stand trial Dec. 1, but social media statements posted by Spradlin’s cousin and the attorney for her family on Sunday first revealed the plan to seek a delay in the case. Commonwealth’s Attorney Brent Turner confirmed those statements as accurate Sunday afternoon.
“I’ll be filing a motion tomorrow because i found out late last week that the DNA testing will not be completed in time for the trial date,” Turner said. “The lab has been working as fast as they can in hopes of having all of the evidence testing completed before the trial but they need more time.”
In her statement, Hall said the family supports the move.
“We, the family are in agreement,” Hall wrote. “Some evidence that wasn’t expected to yield results looks like it might actually be very helpful. … We already have a very strong case but the more we have, the harder it is for their defense to refute it.”
In his statement, Wohlander explained that several items recently tested postive for presumptive blood evidence, and that evidence must now undergo DNA testing. Results of that testing will be not be ready in time for the Dec. 1 trial date.
Whether or not the case is continued or proceeds as scheduled will be up to Special Judge Eddy Coleman. His decision is not expected until at least the next hearing in the case, scheduled for this Thursday, and likely not until sometime afterward, to allow defense attorneys a chance to file their anticipated objections to a delay.
