Kentucky Sheriff’s Family Denies Relationship with Slain Judge Amid Murder Case

In the 2024 fatal shooting of Kentucky District Judge Kevin Mullins by former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines, new evidence refutes earlier rumors of a relationship between Mullins and Stines' underage daughter. Multiple sources, including grand jury transcripts and testimony from Kentucky State Police Detective Clayton Stamper, confirm that neither Stines' daughter nor wife had any contact or relationship with Mullins, who was married with children. While the daughter's phone number appeared on Mullins' phone, it was revealed that Stines himself placed a call to his daughter from Mullins’ phone moments before the shooting. Video footage of the incident shows Stines calmly calling his daughter from both his own and the judge's phone before shooting Mullins in his chambers. Additionally, court records indicate Stines was in a state of active psychosis following the shooting. Stines has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, and the case remains pending.