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Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Kentucky ex-sheriff's 'frivolous' insanity claim won't fly in judge's suspected murder: former prosecutors
Two former prosecutors say that the insanity defense planned by the defense attorney representing former Letcher County, Kentucky, Sheriff Shawn "Mickey" Stines will not hold up. Stines is accused of shooting and killing District Judge Kevin Mullins in the judge's chambers inside the Letcher County Courthouse on Sept. 19, 2024, in an attack that was captured on surveillance video. "It's very rare in most states, including Kentucky, the insanity defense and similar mental health defenses rarely work, because if the person knows right from wrong at the time they committed some criminal act, then any mental health issues are, I guess, secondary," Phil Holloway, a former prosecutor and legal analyst based in Georgia, told Fox News Digital. "If they know right from wrong, they can still be convicted even if they have a mental health issue." 'Extremely Paranoid' Kentucky Sheriff Questioned By Police Moments After Judge's Fatal Shooting: Video Last week, Fox News Digital released video footage of a Kentucky State Police (KSP) investigator and two troopers questioning a paranoid Stines in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. "I leave this building, I won't draw another breath," Stines told KSP Investigator Clayton Stamper, who led the investigation. Read On The Fox News App "Y'all are gonna kill me, aren't you?" he asked at one point in the interview. "Y'all are gonna kill me, I know you are. Let's just get it over with. Let's just go." Follow The Fox True Crime Team On X Holloway said even if the sheriff was paranoid, he still knew that the killing was wrong. "If you look at the sheriff's video from his discussions with law enforcement in the hallway right after the shooting, the sheriff expresses that he's concerned that the police or some other unnamed third party might hurt him or kill him," Holloway said. Kentucky Sheriff Seen In Footage Shooting At Judge In Shocking Preliminary Hearing "And he's asking the cops, you know, he's even alleging that the police might stop en route to the jail to allow somebody else to do something. Now, those things might seem paranoid, and they may seem irrational, but at the same time, when he expresses those things to the officers, to me that indicates that he knows that killing is wrong. "It's interesting because he's telling the cop, he's telling the police not to do it. So, in a way, he's telegraphing that he knows right from wrong. And he knows that killing is wrong because he's asking the police to not kill him." Sign Up To Get The True Crime Newsletter Michael Wynne, a former prosecutor based in Houston, agrees with Holloway, especially given the surveillance footage from Mullins' chambers in the moments leading up to the shooting. "I think this is a frivolous defense," he told Fox News Digital. "The video shows he knows what he's doing is wrong. If you don't know what you're doing is wrong, you don't usher everybody else out of the room, and you don't go ahead and make sure the door is closed. Those are all things that show that he has an ability to make cognizant decisions." Kentucky Courthouse Where Sheriff Allegedly Killed Judge Plagued By Sex Abuse Allegations: Lawsuit Wynne said he believes the best Stines will be able to do is plead guilty to the charges in hopes of taking the death penalty off the table, or potentially being given an opportunity for parole. "Based on the facts, he will lose the case [and] there will be a guilty verdict," Wynne said. "Now, the jury and judge are not supposed to weigh the fact that the defense puts on a case here of insanity. But people are people. And, you know, he'll be punished by the judge and the jury for raising what I think this is a frivolous defense." According to Stines' attorney, Jeremy Bartley, his defense is closely tied to allegations of sexual abuse that plagued Letcher County authorities, including some in the courthouse. Three days before the shooting, Stines was deposed in a civil sexual assault case against his former deputy, Ben Shields, who was accused of sexually abusing a woman. Stines was also named for failing to supervise Fields. Motive Revealed In Kentucky Sheriff's Alleged Killing Of Judge As Body Language Expert Analyzes New Video Bartley declined to comment for this story but previously told Fox News Digital, "I think one of the big things is that my client felt there had been pressure placed on him not to say too much during the deposition, and not to talk about things that happened within the courthouse, particularly in the judge's chambers." Bartley said that threats against Stines' family caused the paranoia to reach a fever pitch. "On the day that this [shooting] happened, my client had attempted multiple times to contact his wife and daughter, and he firmly believed that they were in danger," Bartley said. "He believed that they were in danger because of what he knew to have happened within the courthouse. And there was pressure, and there were threats made to him to sort of keep him in line, to keep them from saying more than these folks wanted him to say."Original article source: Kentucky ex-sheriff's 'frivolous' insanity claim won't fly in judge's suspected murder: former prosecutors
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Yahoo
Outcast son in wealthy family's 'Shakespearean' downfall held advantage he didn't realize: author
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). When Nathan Carman, a Vermont man accused of killing his mother at sea over an inheritance, died by suicide, many believed he took his secrets to the grave. But one true crime author believes that if the 29-year-old hadn't killed himself in his jail cell, there wouldn't have been enough evidence to convict him. He argued that there were other suspects that could have been looked at, ones that Carman likely didn't realize were present. Nathan Carman, Vermont Man Accused Of Killing Mother At Sea, Dies Awaiting Trial "I do not think there was going to be enough evidence to convict him," Casey Sherman told Fox News Digital. "This was a no body case. Everything was circumstantial when it came to his mother's disappearance. Read On The Fox News App "… I told investigators, 'Let's follow the theory that Nathan murdered his mother. How would Nathan plan his getaway? They never answered that question for me. I don't think they could've answered that question themselves." Sherman has written a new book, "Blood in the Water," which delves into Carman's brief life and his theories about what took place. For the book, he spoke to Carman's loved ones, investigators, and others closely connected to the case. Sherman's 2006 bestseller, "The Finest Hours," became a 2016 film. Follow The Fox True Crime Team On X Sherman said that Carman appeared determined to prove his innocence during his final months. In 2022, he pleaded not guilty to fraud and first-degree murder in the death of his mother, Linda Carman. He was scheduled to go on trial the year he died. Carman was the sole occupant of a county jail cell in New Hampshire where guards found him dead. One of his lawyers, Martin Minnella, said Carman appeared "in good spirits." They last spoke on the day before he died, and they had planned to meet with experts about his case. "I would describe his final months as being very active in his defense," Sherman explained. "His death came as a shock to everybody, including his attorneys. Nathan had a very strong defense against the disappearance and potential murder of his mother… He was looking forward to his day in court, and he never got it." "The circumstances surrounding his death in jail are certainly mysterious to me and others," Sherman shared. Sign Up To Get The True Crime Newsletter "There are people that don't believe Nathan took his own life. The media immediately claimed that Nathan had left a suicide note behind, which was false. It was a note to his lawyers to follow up on a lead for his defense. He was only three to four months away from his trial, and there was a strong likelihood, whether you believe Nathan was guilty or innocent, that he would've been acquitted." "The state of Vermont, I don't think, would've been able to prove this case against him," Sherman added. It's noted that the attorney general's office confirmed that authorities didn't consider Carman's death to be suspicious. In September 2016, Carman organized a fishing trip with his mother, who lived in Middletown, Connecticut, during which prosecutors said he planned to kill her and report that the boat sank, and his mother disappeared in the accident. Carman was found floating in an inflatable raft eight days after leaving a Rhode Island marina with Linda, whose body was never recovered. Prosecutors alleged he altered the boat to make it more likely to sink. Carman denied the allegation. "The investigators that I interviewed said they began to question Nathan's story right away," said Sherman. "They felt his story didn't add up because his life raft was discovered in an area that didn't make sense. If his fishing boat went down where he claimed it went down, he would've been taken by currents in the opposite direction from where his life raft was ultimately found." GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE True Crime Hub "Now, that can be explained in a way, and I don't think the investigators looked at this," said Sherman. "I interviewed a fisherman who sold Nathan all of his fishing equipment. That fisherman said Nathan had no idea where anything was. He was mislabeling and misnaming certain fishing spots, not doing so deceptively, but doing so because he just didn't really know where he was doing." Prosecutors said Linda's death paved the way for Carman to inherit an estimated $7 million. They argued he was unemployed much of the time and low on funds when he arranged the fishing trip with his mother. It's also believed that Linda had removed Carman from her will. "She never explained why she made that decision," said Sherman. "It's interesting that the news came up after Nathan's death. So, we don't know whether Linda told Nathan beforehand that she was removing him from the estate… Nathan would not have had access to any money that Linda had inherited if he had killed her. That calls into question Nathan's motivation to kill her, because he would not have benefitted financially." Sherman described Carman's relationship with Linda, 54, as "incredibly complex." "I think Linda was vying for some attention from her son, which is why she would go out on fishing trips with him," he explained. "It was the only way she could bond with him. But Linda… was overprotective of Nathan. She was trying to keep him in bubble wrap. She wanted him to get therapy for his Asperger's. His grandfather, John Chakalos, overlooked Nathan's disorder. He was going to literally give Nathan the entire $50 million family company. So, you had a battle between Linda and John over Nathan's care. That battle spilled into violence." "John and Linda fought with their fists over Nathan's care," he claimed. "I would say the only two people who loved Nathan were John and Linda. And the only two people Nathan loved were his grandfather and mother. This was a Shakespearean drama unfolding." Sherman noted that to some, Carman's behavior came off as "aggressive" in some instances. However, there's no proof that he ever exhibited violent behavior. An eight-count indictment said Carman shot and killed his wealthy grandfather, 87, in 2013 as he slept, to obtain money and property from the patriarch's estate. But the indictment did not charge Carman with his grandfather's killing, and he had consistently denied any involvement in his death. "I'm not sure who Linda felt could have been responsible for her father's death," said Sherman. "You could actually put her in the pool of suspects. She had a lot to lose with her father because her father was always cutting her off financially. Linda never really could hold onto a job. She would go on spending sprees and head to the casinos of Connecticut… She wasn't necessarily somebody I would consider responsible." However, Sherman wondered if "associates of the family" were the ones who didn't want Carman to get access to the family fortune and grandfather's business. "I do believe that certainly led to John's murder," said Sherman. "You look at the different potential suspects that the police overlooked or bypassed… You look at John's mistress, a 25-year-old woman who was dating a well-known drug dealer in the community at the time. [He] knew John kept large amounts of cash in his home." Joy Washburn was the longtime caretaker of Chakalos' 88-acre New Hampshire estate, People magazine reported. According to the outlet, Washburn told Sherman that in 2013, "an associate of the family" – not Carman – contacted her, claiming that they would offer to pay $10,000 for Chakalos' death because "the entire family hates John." Sherman claimed that "Joy dismissed it as somebody just venting." But two weeks later, he was dead. Child Abduction Survivor Elizabeth Smart Warns Of 'Terrifying Territory' For Today's Kids Sherman believes that Carman "could be a victim and a villain in his own story." "I do believe Nathan's actions caused the sinking of that fishing boat where he made faulty repairs," he explained. "I think that was negligence on his part. I don't think that was criminally negligent… His brain worked in a way where he liked to take things apart and try to put them back together. For example, he purchased a historic farm home in Vermont. He had zero carpentry experience. He took that beautiful home apart in hopes of putting it back together. If you look at that house today, it looks like a big pile of Jenga blocks ready to collapse. Nathan didn't know what he was doing." Sherman claimed that at least 15 witnesses saw Carman drill holes in his fishing boat and then tried to repair them himself. He said they also felt Carman didn't know what he was doing. Still, prosecutors said it was Carman who bought the rifle that he allegedly used to shoot his grandfather. They said Carman discarded his own computer's hard drive and the GPS unit in his truck. Police also said Carman was the last person to see his grandfather alive and owned a semi-automatic rifle similar to the one used to kill Chakalos. That firearm disappeared. After Chakalos died, Carman received $550,000 from two bank accounts his grandfather had set up and that he was the beneficiary of when Chakalos died. According to Sherman's book, Carman's cremains were buried next to his grandfather. "I don't believe he wouldn't have been found guilty in a criminal court," stressed Sherman. "However, I don't know whether Nathan committed double murder. It depends on the day. Some days, I think he was a criminal mastermind. Other days I think there's no way he could have pulled this off." "I've covered 200 homicides in my career," Sherman reflected. "It's difficult to pull off the perfect crime, let alone two, one on land and one at sea… That may be giving Nathan more credit than he deserves."Original article source: Outcast son in wealthy family's 'Shakespearean' downfall held advantage he didn't realize: author
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
New England serial killer fears: Investigators identify two bodies pulled from rivers in separate states
As fears circulate online regarding a potential serial killer in New England, two more of the bodies found in the region over the past two months have now been identified. Wednesday evening, police in Glastonbury, Connecticut confirmed the identity of a woman found in the Connecticut River in the town of Rocky Hill on Saturday. She was identified as 72-year-old Glastonbury resident Mary Colasanto, who had been reported missing. The Glastonbury Police Department said that no further details were available at the time of the release. That news came shortly after the body found in a river in Taunton, Massachusetts on Friday afternoon was identified. Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III confirmed Wednesday morning that the body was Samuel Stovall, 51, of Taunton. Quinn said that Stovall was homeless, and known to Taunton Police. His body was found in Mill River by walkers, and had obvious signs of decomposition. Quinn's office said the death has not been deemed suspicious, but that an investigation remains open. New England Serial Killer Fears Merit 'Review And Investigation' After Remains Found Across 3 States: Expert There have been a total of 11 bodies found in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts since the beginning of March, fueling online speculation that a serial killer might be roaming the area. Read On The Fox News App However, police departments in the region have denied those rumors. Meggan Meredith, 45, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was found dead last Tuesday, and identified earlier this week. Follow The Fox True Crime Team On X Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni addressed the serial killer rumors in light of Meredith's death. New England Serial Killer Fears: 10 Bodies Now Found In Less Than 2 Months "While online conversations around these incidents continue to grow, we urge the public to be mindful of the role that social media can play in spreading fear or misinformation," he said. "Unverified claims can compromise active investigations and contribute to a sense of chaos that does not reflect the full picture." The remains of a Rhode Island woman who had been missing since July were recently found in Foster. Her family adamantly denied that her death was related to a serial killer. SIGN UP TO GET True Crime Newsletter The body of Paige Fannon, 35, was found in the Norwalk River in Norwalk, Connecticut in early March. "The State of Connecticut Medical Examiners' Office has not completed its investigation," Connecticut State Police said. "Based on our investigation, there is no indication of foul play or relation to any other death or serial killer." GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE True Crime Hub But Ted Williams, an attorney and former Washington, D.C. homicide detective, said that so many bodies found in such proximity is an oddity. "Anytime you find 10 bodies in any geographical location, it is very concerning to law enforcement," Williams told Fox News Digital. "The big question that law enforcement have though, when you find 10 bodies like this, is to try to show some kind of a nexus between these various areas in which these bodies have been found." He believes that law enforcement entities in New England are likely communicating about the cases. "I would absolutely have to believe that in the New England corridor, where these bodies have come up, that there is communication between law enforcement agencies at these various venues and these various locations where bodies have been found to try to show if there is an actual nexus between the bodies that have been and a specific, should we say serial killer," he article source: New England serial killer fears: Investigators identify two bodies pulled from rivers in separate states
