PRESTONSBURG, Ky. — Two of the defendants in the Amber Spradlin murder case have indicated they are not opposed to another continuance in the trial, leaving only the primary defendant as having objected to further delays.
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.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Brent Turner filed a renewed motion for another delay last week, saying evidence that could prove critical to the case is still undergoing DNA testing.
In nearly identical responses filed on Tuesday, attorneys for Michael McKinney and Mullins say they are not opposed to another delay and add that having complete results of testing could actually prove beneficial to their clients.
In particular, they say that a bloody handprint found on the couch next to Spradlin’s body and blood found on Michael McKinney’s bedroom door could exonerate their clients if someone else’s DNA is found. They add that such a finding could bolster their alternate theory of the case that Spradlin’s friend, Roy Kidd, should be considered a suspect in her death.
“The Commonwealth’s case is predicated on the theory that Defendant’s statements, actions, behavior and alleged plan to tamper with evidence were undertaken to protect co-defendant ‘M.K. McKinney’ from a murder conviction,” both motions say. “However, the outstanding forensic testing bears directly on that theory. If testing of the blood on the bedroom door or the handprint on the couch reveals the presence of Roy Kidd’s blood, the victim’s blood, or any mixture thereof, such results would be exculpatory and could materially undermine the Commonwealth’s theory. Roy Kidd has provided detailed statements to detectives indicating that he did not touch the ‘dried’ blood on the victim’s body and did not have blood on his hands when he touched the door.”
Attorneys for M.K. McKinney have not filed a response to the prosecution’s latest request for a delay, but were previously the only ones to object when the matter came up during a hearing on April 23.
Special Judge Eddy Coleman has delayed the start of the trial by one day, so that he can hold a hearing to determine whether another delay is warranted. He also ordered the prosecution to produce a witness from the state crime lab to testify about why evidence testing has taken so long and when officials there expect to be finished. Judge Coleman is also entertaining the idea of severing M.K. McKinney’s case from the other defendants, so that he can be tried on schedule and the others can have their cases delayed.
That hearing will take place next Monday. If the request for a continuance is denied, the trial will begin on Tuesday.
