Prestonsburg, Ky – Prestonsburg Police are investigating the death of an inmate at the Floyd County Detention Center. On Saturday, officers said inmate Jeffery Lumpkins of Hazard was found unresponsive after an apparent suicide attempt. Lumpkins was taken to Highlands Regional ARH, where he was pronounced dead, despite lifesaving efforts by medical and jail staff. Investigators say statements and video from inside the jail confirm the death was a suicide. His body was taken to the Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.
Pikeville, Ky – A Johnson County man faces multiple drug charges after a traffic stop in Pike County. State police say Trooper Nicholas Taylor clocked a 2012 Honda CR-V at 71 miles an hour in a 55mph zone on Dec. 1st and stopped it on Fedscreek Road. The driver, 45-year-old Mark Smith of Staffordsville, had no license with him. Officer Taylor reported seeing marijuana, a glass pipe and cut straws with white residue in plain view, along with a large amount of meth, syringes, scales and baggies. Smith showed signs of intoxication, was taken to Pikeville Medical Center for a blood test, then lodged in the Pike County Detention Center on trafficking, DUI, drug possession, license and traffic charges.
Prestonsburg, Ky – A Floyd County judge found enough evidence to send Joshua Gayheart’s murder case to the grand jury. Gayheart, age 35, is charged in the November 24 shooting death of Sarah Slone in Beaver. Detectives say Gayheart gave several accounts, but the autopsy found the gunshot’s angle didn’t match his stories. Evidence included multiple shell casings, a handgun found nearby, and an ejected magazine. Gayheart faces murder and tampering charges. The grand jury will decide on a possible indictment.
Perry County, Ky – Authorities say a 78-year-old Perry County man who went missing last week has been found dead. Emergency Management officials say search crews had been looking for Dan McVay in the Browns Fork area for three days. He was found dead Saturday. Officials thanked all of the agencies and volunteers who helped in the search.