Investigators are working to uncover the motive behind the shocking murder of Kentucky judge Kevin Mullins, who was fatally shot in his chambers by someone he knew well: Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines.
The two men had reportedly been close friends for decades, and even had lunch together just hours before the tragic incident.
The senseless killing has left the local community in shock as authorities try to understand why the sheriff allegedly turned on his longtime friend.
Sheriff Stines, 43, is accused of walking into Judge Mullins’ chambers on September 19 and shooting him eight times.
The judge, 53, was pronounced dead at the scene, and Stines surrendered immediately, exiting the courtroom with his hands up.
He was taken into custody without incident and has since pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge.
According to Kentucky State Police Trooper Matt Gayheart, surveillance footage from the courtroom shows a bizarre interaction between the sheriff and the judge just before the shooting.
The video reportedly shows the pair exchanging cell phones and looking at something on them before Stines suddenly pulled out a weapon and fired.
Authorities have since seized the phones and are analyzing them for clues.
The sudden act of violence is all the more puzzling because of the longstanding friendship between the two men. Sources close to both say they had known each other for years and had never shown signs of conflict.
“Everything seemed fine between them. There was no clue that anything was wrong at all,” said an employee at Streetside Grill & Bar, where the two men had lunch on the day of the shooting.
The employee noted that Stines and Mullins had ordered their usual meal of chicken wings and salad and appeared to be in good spirits.
“Nobody I know can understand what happened between lunchtime and the judge’s death,” the employee added, underscoring the community’s confusion and disbelief.
Letcher Circuit Clerk Mike Watts echoed that sentiment, stating, “I never knew of there being any kind of friction between them. We all got along good, teased each other.”
While the motive behind the killing remains unclear, one potential explanation being explored by investigators is whether a prior sex scandal involving a former bailiff in Judge Mullins’ court could be related to the incident.
Before becoming sheriff, Stines had worked as Mullins’ bailiff.
His successor, Ben Fields, was later fired after it was revealed he had coerced a female prisoner into having sex with him inside Judge Mullins’ chambers.
Fields pleaded guilty earlier this year to raping the prisoner and was sentenced to six months in jail, followed by over six years of probation.
Fields’ actions led to a civil lawsuit, with two women accusing Stines of failing to properly train and supervise Fields.
The sheriff had been deposed in the lawsuit just days before Mullins’ murder, raising questions about whether the legal case may have triggered the violent act.
When asked if the “sex scandal” could be a motive for the killing, Trooper Gayheart responded, “Absolutely. We are not ruling out anything as a possible motive.”
While investigators are combing through evidence, rumors and speculation have swept through the tight-knit community.
“Rumors, apparently none true, have raced through the community, setting a torch to other relationships,” reported The Mountain Eagle, a local newspaper.
The publication noted that the gossip has split residents, with some indulging in salacious theories while others are determined to protect the reputations of two men who had long been considered pillars of the community.
As investigators analyze the cell phones and dig deeper into the relationship between Stines and Mullins, the public remains on edge, awaiting answers to a case that has left more questions than clarity.
With emotions running high and a community reeling, the outcome of this investigation will likely have a lasting impact on the local area—and on the families of both men involved.
