Surveillance footage from a Kentucky sheriff’s office has revealed the chilling moments leading up to the fatal shooting of Judge Kevin Mullins by his longtime friend, Letcher County Sheriff Shawn ‘Mickey’ Stines.
This tragic incident, which took place on September 19, 2024, has left the local community in disbelief.
Tensions Build Before the Shooting
The footage, shared by Fox News, shows Sheriff Stines entering Mullins’ office, where the judge was sitting with several others.
Prior to the shooting, the two had shared a lunch together, along with some of the people present in Mullins’ office.
As the video begins, Stines is seen ordering the others to leave the room, setting the stage for the confrontation between the two.
Stines and Mullins engage in a tense exchange, with Stines sitting across from Mullins and showing him something on his phone.
At one point, Mullins hands his phone over to Stines, who briefly examines it and attempts to make a call that goes unanswered.
Afterward, Stines tosses the phone back on the desk, and Mullins appears to remain calm, trying to de-escalate the situation.
A Sudden and Deadly Turn
The situation escalates when Stines stands up and reveals his gun holstered on his hip, prompting Mullins to raise his hands in apparent surrender.
Body language expert Susan Constantine, speaking to Fox News, noted that Stines seemed primed for conflict from the moment he entered the room.
Meanwhile, Mullins appeared relaxed, smoking a cigarette and not fully grasping the danger he was in.
Constantine explained that Mullins’ nonchalant demeanor might have contributed to Stines’ growing anger.
As the sheriff leaned in, Mullins shrugged off the situation, which only seemed to infuriate Stines more.
In response, Mullins gestured as if questioning the sheriff’s actions, but the situation quickly spiraled out of control.
The footage ends with Stines allegedly shooting Mullins while he sat at his desk.
Legal Proceedings and Defense Strategy
Stines now faces a charge of first-degree murder, though his attorneys are preparing to use an insanity defense.
According to defense lawyer Jeremy Bartley, Stines’ state of mind at the time of the shooting will be central to the case.
He suggested that Stines’ actions may have been influenced by fears for the safety of his family, particularly after a deposition he gave just days before the shooting.
The deposition was linked to accusations against one of Stines’ deputies for sexually assaulting jail inmates.
One accuser claimed that she had been forced into a sexual relationship with a deputy in Mullins’ chambers.
Stines reportedly feared that the fallout from this case would put his life and the lives of his family members in danger, potentially explaining his mental state at the time.
Stines’ Growing Paranoia
Bartley further explained that Stines had become increasingly paranoid in the weeks leading up to the tragic event.
Witnesses indicated that the sheriff had been struggling with insomnia, withdrawal, and heightened anxiety, which prompted his co-workers to encourage him to seek medical help.
Stines reportedly visited a doctor the day before the shooting.
Defense attorneys have indicated that Stines’ mental health issues and his increasing paranoia will be key aspects of his defense as the trial approaches.
Although rumors about a relationship between Stines’ daughter and Mullins have surfaced, Bartley has denied these claims, emphasizing that the phone calls made during the confrontation were unrelated to those rumors.
What’s Next for the Case?
As the case moves forward, the community of Whitesburg, Kentucky, is left grappling with the shock of a tragic and senseless act involving two prominent local figures.
The trial promises to be a complex one, with the defense focusing on Stines’ mental state and the impact of the deposition he had given just days before the incident.
The coming weeks will reveal whether these factors will play a pivotal role in the court’s decision.