Pikeville, Ky – Kentucky State Police are investigating after a woman was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead in Pike County. Troopers were called Tuesday to the Millard community after a 911 call and found 53-year-old Valarie McPeek of Pikeville outside near Biggs Branch Road, where she was pronounced dead at the scene by the coroner’s office. Troopers said foul play is not suspected at this time.

 

Prestonsburg, Ky – With Christmas approaching and more last‑minute deliveries going out, police say package thefts are on the rise. Trooper Matt Gayheart says thieves often drive through neighborhoods looking for packages left in plain sight on porches and near doors. He recommends installing security or doorbell cameras to capture evidence and scare off would‑be thieves and coordinating deliveries, so someone is home to bring them inside quickly, or having drivers place packages in a spot that is out of sight from the road. If you become a victim of a porch pirate, you’re urged to file a report and contact your local police.

 

Letcher County, Ky – A hearing has been set in the case of former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines, charged with murdering Letcher District Judge Kevin Mullins. Investigators say Stines shot Mullins multiple times inside his chambers on September 19, 2024, and the incident was caught on security cameras. Special Judge Christopher Cohron has scheduled a hearing for 1:30 p.m., Thursday, December 18, in Letcher Circuit Court to get an update on the case and hear pending motions, including bond and a possible change of venue.

 

Pike County, Ky – A Pike County couple charged with child abuse now has a trial date. Mary Hall and Jerome Norman appeared for a pretrial conference on December 10, after earlier arrests in a case where a child in Hall’s care was reported to have “shown signs of torture.” Hall is charged in connection with the reported abuse, while Norman faces charges including kidnapping and criminal abuse. Both were arrested in January, and a judge has now scheduled their trial for April 6, with a pretrial hearing set for April 1.