Hillbilly Crime Investigates

This video, titled Hillbilly Crime Investigates: The Chain of Command Failure, provides a detailed examination of the fatal police operation that led to the death of Doug Harless in London, Kentucky (3:34 - 7:07). The host, Elizabeth, analyzes how a search warrant intended for one location resulted in officers storming the wrong residence, leading to a tragic, preventable outcome.Key takeaways from the investigation include:Breakdown of Operational Control: The video highlights that the operation suffered from a total lack of structured supervision. While department policies mandate that a supervisor must review the warrant, approve the execution, and act as a Search Supervisor on-scene to verify the location, none of these safeguards were effectively implemented (10:45 - 16:43, 30:03 - 32:00).Jurisdictional Issues: The London Police Department officers executed the warrant in the county, yet they failed to coordinate with the Sheriff's Department as required by policy (13:22 - 15:21).Contradictory Evidence: The host compares the official narrative—which claims officers clearly announced their presence—with footage from a neighbor's security camera, suggesting that the police presence was not clearly communicated to the victim (20:19 - 22:26, 43:18 - 43:42).Legal Concerns: The host questions the inclusion of documents related to the legal standard of care for officers in the case file, suggesting this may be part of an effort to minimize liability for the involved parties (40:17 - 42:58, 1:02:08 - 1:04:45).The host emphasizes that this was not a matter of confusion, but a systemic breakdown where clear policies were ignored, leading to the wrongful death of an innocent individual (45:04 - 47:49, 1:03:24 - 1:03:45).

Tonight on Hillbilly Crime Investigates, we are reading through the Commonwealth's response to M.K. McKinney's motion to reduce bond in the Amber Spradlin murder case.This October 2024 court filing gives one of the clearest previews of what prosecutors say points toward Michael "M.K." McKinney III, including DNA under Amber Spradlin's fingernails, Roy Kidd being excluded from that fingernail DNA, Roy's blood allegedly being his own, scratches on M.K.'s arms, the 911 calls, Dr. McKinney's alleged call to Randy Woods, missing cameras, and statements about M.K.'s mental condition.This is a prosecution filing, not a verdict. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Roy Kidd is not charged in this case. This show discusses court filings, public reporting, and allegations that may or may not become evidence at trial.Defendants:Michael "M.K." McKinney IIIDr. Michael McKinney IIJosh MullinsTopics discussed:Amber SpradlinM.K. McKinneyRoy KiddDr. Michael McKinneyJosh MullinsDNA evidenceY-STR DNAAmber's fingernails911 callRandy Woodsmissing camerasbond reductionKentucky murder trial#HillbillyCrimeInvestigates #AmberSpradlin #KentuckyCrime #TrueCrime #TrialWatch

In this episode of Hillbilly Crime, host Elizabeth and her mother Sweet Tater discuss the organization and launch of the "Evidence Room," a new investigative project focused on the death of Doug Harless.Key Highlights:The Evidence Room: The host introduces an organized, systematic approach to reviewing the massive (22.2 GB) Kentucky State Police (KSP) investigative file regarding Doug Harless (17:31-19:20). The project is being hosted on Patreon to allow viewers to follow the investigation piece by piece.The Case Importance: Doug Harless died during an officer-involved shooting with the London Police Department. Elizabeth argues that the official conclusions drawn by authorities do not align with the evidence in the files provided via open records (13:58-15:53).Investigative Methodology: The host emphasizes the importance of establishing a clear timeline using Laurel County 911 CAD records to compare against official statements and warrants (21:35-22:22). This allows for testing the consistency of witness interviews, medical examiner reports, and police activity (27:01-29:13).Autopsy Findings: Elizabeth reviews portions of the autopsy report, noting that Doug Harless sustained three gunshot wounds to the head and neck area out of five shots fired (47:11-49:22).Goal of the Series: The show aims to slow down the investigation to properly analyze the records, identify contradictions, and provide an independent look at the case that official channels failed to address (14:35-17:23).

This video from Hillbilly Crime Investigates is a deep-dive examination into the fatal shooting of Doug Harless in Laurel County, Kentucky. The show focuses on the discrepancies in a search warrant and the police's subsequent failure to properly identify the residence, leading to the death of an innocent man inside his own home (3:57 - 4:40).Key areas discussed in the episode include:The Address Discrepancy: The investigation highlights that the search warrant was issued for 489 Vanzant Road, but the police executed the warrant at 511 Vanzant Road (16:18 - 16:27, 32:21 - 32:49).Procedural Failures: The host argues that the search warrant was based on flimsy information—including a property record explicitly marked as "not to be used on legal documents"—and questions why no proper supervision was in place during the execution of the warrant (40:32 - 41:11, 116:50 - 118:31).The Role of Transparency: By reviewing the Kentucky State Police investigative file, the show aims to contrast the "official" narrative with the physical evidence found in the files, such as maps and officer statements (9:11 - 10:48, 109:04 - 110:28).The Goal of the Investigation: The central theme of the episode is accountability. The host insists that a search warrant is meant to protect citizens from government overreach, and asks why it failed so catastrophically in the case of Doug Harless (8:03 - 8:19, 120:02 - 120:52).

This episode of Hillbilly Crime Investigates is entirely focused on the Amber Spradlin case. The host explains that they are preparing for the upcoming May 11, 2026, trial by walking through the public timeline of events leading up to the night of her death (3:32 - 13:56).Key aspects discussed regarding Amber include:The Central Question: The host focuses on understanding how Amber arrived at the home on Arkansas Creek in Floyd County, Kentucky, where she was found deceased on June 18, 2023 (4:02 - 14:08).The Timeline: The host outlines a "social chain of events" that reportedly began around a work and social setting at the Brickhouse and Seasons Inn in Prestonburg before moving to the residence of Dr. Michael McKinney (19:16 - 20:03).Key Figures: The episode identifies the main individuals involved or named in the case, including the victim, Amber Spradlin (22:54), and defendants Michael "M.K." McKinney III (23:23), Dr. Michael McKinney II (23:55), and Josh Mullins (24:18), as well as Roy Kidd (25:22).Investigative Issues: The host highlights several critical questions that are central to the case, such as the 911 call (32:39), missing cameras, the state of the physical evidence (43:28), and the alleged evidence tampering (45:01).

This video, titled "Who Met the Burden? Breaking Down the Reply Briefs," features the host, Elizabeth, discussing a contentious Kentucky Power rate case. The discussion centers on the legal filings, or "reply briefs," submitted by the utility company, industrial customers, and various joint intervenors (such as the Appalachian Citizens Law Center).Key takeaways from the discussion:The Core Conflict (12:30 - 14:15): The debate revolves around whether the requested rate increases are "fair, just, and reasonable." Elizabeth highlights the confusion between these legal terms and the consumer experience of affordability. She emphasizes that the burden of proof lies with Kentucky Power to show their requested costs are the "lowest reasonable rate."The "Financial Death Spiral" (19:25 - 20:25): The joint intervenors argue that the region is stuck in a cycle where high rates cause population decline, which in turn leads to further rate increases. They characterize the company's approach as "kicking the can" with various deferrals rather than providing actual, long-term relief.The Settlement Agreement (24:25 - 26:15): There is a proposed settlement currently before the Public Service Commission (PSC). While industrial customers generally support adopting the settlement to avoid further uncertainty, the joint intervenors contend it still results in double-digit rate increases and fails to address the underlying energy burden on struggling, low-income residential customers.Legal Arguments (46:30 - 48:15): The company argues that it has met its burden of proof and that modifications to the settlement would be detrimental to its operations. Conversely, the intervenors argue the company ignores the rights of the rate-paying public and fails to provide sufficient justification for its proposed costs, such as those related to transmission, vegetation management, and storm restoration (54:05 - 58:30).Call for Change (1:22:05 - 1:23:30): Elizabeth notes that the PSC members are bound by existing laws and that meaningful reform must come from the state legislature (the General Assembly). She encourages viewers to stay informed and get involved in the political process.

In one small town Appalachian town, a Sheriff shot a Judge in his own chambers. Follow along with us as we investigate this case and others.#hillbillycrime #hillbillyhouse #investigates #MickeyStines #Sheriff #Deputy #BenFields #Secrets

In this Hillbilly Crime Investigates episode, we dig into the Doug Harless case and the fatal shooting by London Police in Laurel County, Kentucky, during the execution of a search warrant on December 23, 2024.We walk through the official case file, dispatch information, surveillance footage, and investigation records to examine the address problem at the center of this case. The warrant trail points to 489 Vanzant Road, while official reports later place the fatal encounter at 511 Vanzant Road. We also discuss the visible house number, the nature of the stolen-property warrant, the door breach, and the questions still surrounding the Kentucky State Police investigation and grand jury outcome.This episode is part of the Doug Harless Evidence Room series, where Hillbilly Crime is reviewing the public records step by step and comparing the official version against what the documents, footage, and timelines show.Also included: the introduction of a new recurring segment, Possum Pick, featuring Frenchie Fry and Tater Tot.

This video from our Hillbilly Crime YouTube LIVE provides a breakdown of a court hearing related to the Mickey Stines case, revisiting the proceedings from over one year ago to analyze what has been uncovered and what remains unclear. We discuss the complexities of the Stines Murder case, the legal strategies involved, and frustrations regarding the slow progress of the judicial process.Key Highlights from the Breakdown:Status of the Case (10:44 - 11:24): This video features a segment of a court hearing where a Special Judge was appointed to the case. The attorneys discuss the status of discovery (12:07 - 13:49) and potential timelines for completion.Legal Procedures & Mental Health Evaluation (16:33 - 25:14): A significant portion of the hearing covers the request for evaluations regarding competency and criminal responsibility. The defense and the Commonwealth debate the procedures, the involvement of experts like Dr. Eric Drogan, and the timing of reports (19:28 - 25:14).Bond Hearing (25:17 - 27:14): The defense expresses their intent to file for a formal bond hearing, which the court agrees to address once the motion is properly filed.Context on Ben Fields (33:11 - 37:26): We also provide background on former deputy Ben Fields, noting his sentencing and the plea deal that resulted in him serving six months in the Letcher County Jail.Key Takeaways:We emphasize that the case is moving slowly and that many aspects still do not "add up" (43:23 - 43:45).There is a focus on the importance of local culture and the potential impact of having attorneys who understand the region (41:40 - 42:33).We conclude that while there are still significant gaps in the information, we intend to continue digging into the case details as they unfold (43:35 - 43:56).

This video from Hillbilly Crime breaks down newly released bodycam footage involving former Kentucky State Police Trooper Hayden Kilbourne following a dangerous multi-county pursuit in July 2023 (0:09, 9:48). The video focuses on the excessive force used after the suspect was already on the ground and appearing to comply (10:57).Key Timeline Highlights:July 28, 2023: The incident occurs involving a pursuit and the subsequent excessive force (9:48, 17:08).August 2, 2023: KSP moves to terminate Kilbourne (11:15).Administrative Appeal: Kilbourne challenges the termination, and a trial board reduces the punishment to a six-month suspension (11:28-11:46).Criminal Charges: KSP launches a criminal investigation, leading to charges of Assault 2nd Degree and Terroristic Threatening 3rd Degree (11:47-12:05).Resignation: Kilbourne resigns in January 2026 (12:36).Video Release: The bodycam footage is finally released to the public in March 2026 (12:43).Analysis of Excessive Force:The host highlights the moment Kilbourne deployed his taser and subsequently delivered multiple baton strikes to the suspect's upper body while the suspect was on the ground (10:39-10:53).The footage shows the suspect appearing to show his hands in compliance before being struck (10:57).The video questions why the partner officer did not intervene to stop the use of force (20:25, 34:43).The host speculates that the criminal prosecution only proceeded because Kilbourne appealed his initial termination (22:05-23:42).

Join us tonight as Hillbilly Crime discusses the dangers of a new, exceptionally strong drug—cyclorphine (referred to in the video as xylazine or "tranq")—that is killing people faster than fentanyl in Kentucky and Tennessee (4:35-4:44). The video highlights that this new substance, often mixed with other drugs, makes Narcan less effective (39:23-40:27).The host, who has 15 years of recovery (7:56-8:02), emphasizes the following key points:Lab detection issues: Many labs currently cannot detect cyclorphine, leading to misidentified overdose deaths (37:58-38:13).Xylazine effects: Known as "tranq," this veterinary tranquilizer slows breathing and heart rate, and causes severe skin ulcerations and open wounds (56:06-56:32, 1:04:53-1:05:06).Addiction and Stigma: The host shares a personal story about finding identity after retirement (19:13-19:31) and argues that using medication-assisted treatment (like Suboxone) is not a weakness, but a tool for survival and maintaining recovery (20:24-20:42, 1:26:01-1:26:57).The episode concludes with a message of breaking cycles and providing support for those struggling with addiction (1:28:13-1:28:40).

This video from Hillbilly Crime covers the latest developments in the case of the murder of Judge Kevin Mullins by Sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines in Letcher County, Kentucky.Key Discussion Points:Judge's Refusal to Recuse: The judge presiding over the case, Judge Corin, issued an order refusing to step aside despite Mickey Stines' motion to recuse based on his professional relationship with the victim (6:56). The judge argues that this nominal association does not interfere with their duty to act impartially (39:00).Unanswered Motive: The video emphasizes that despite months of proceedings, the elusive why—the motive behind Stines shooting Mullins nine times in his chambers—remains unknown (8:32).Corruption Allegations: The host discusses a culture of secrets and corruption in the county, referring to a giant pink elephant in the room that everyone knew about but no one talked about (45:00).Flood Money Investigation: The host pivots to an ongoing investigation into the misappropriation of flood relief money from the 2022 disaster, highlighting issues with non-profit Homes, Inc. and the Bluegrass Community Foundation (1:00:00).Final Remarks:The video concludes with a prayer and a plea for justice and truth in the community (1:30:50).

This video from Hillbilly Crime covers the final resolution of the civil lawsuit filed by Sabrina Adkins against former Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines (referenced as Stein in the video), Deputy Ben Fields, and the ankle monitor company (10:45). Adkins alleged that she was forced into sexual favors by Deputy Fields in exchange for leniency regarding her house arrest requirements (13:36, 50:00).Key highlights of the video include:Settlement Reached: Moments before the trial was set to begin, the parties reached a settlement agreement (34:43). The court ordered the case to be administratively closed and stricken from the active docket (37:36).Corruption and Oversight: The video discusses the legal maze of filings, motions, and attorney changes (including the dismissal of attorney Ned Pillersdorf) that delayed the case (25:57, 34:00).Sabrina Adkins: Adkins is portrayed as a forgotten hero who remained silent and disciplined throughout the difficult legal process, hoping for healing now that the chapter is closed (14:57, 12:02).Expert Testimony: The video reviews expert analysis from Scott Hilden, who evaluated the actions of Fields and Stines against accepted law enforcement protocols regarding use of force and supervision (39:17, 45:25).

Who Profits From Your Electric Bill?Every month millions of people pay their electric bill without really knowing where that money goes. But behind every kilowatt of power is a complex system of utilities, regulators, energy markets, and corporations.In this episode, we take a closer look at who actually profits from the electricity you use every day. We break down how electric companies make money, who sets the rates consumers pay, and why energy costs continue to rise in many areas.From power generation to distribution and regulation, we explore the structure of the modern energy industry and the financial incentives that shape it.If you've ever opened your electric bill and wondered why it keeps climbing, this episode dives into the systems and players behind the price of power.Topics covered:⚡ How electricity pricing works⚡ Utility companies and profit models⚡ Who regulates power companies⚡ Why electric rates change⚡ What consumers should know about the energy market

This episode of Hillbilly Crime covers the tragic ATV crash in Perry County, Kentucky, that resulted in the death of 16-year-old Emilyn Clark (3:31 - 3:55). The family is demanding answers due to serious inconsistencies in the official story regarding who was driving and the circumstances leading up to the accident (4:05 - 4:15).Key Points Discussed:Evidence Concerns: The victim's aunt alleges that the investigation was inadequate, stating the family found Emilyn's phone submerged in a creek 15 hours later, which revealed Snapchat footage showing her in the back seat, not driving (17:41 - 18:03, 44:23 - 46:02).Contradictory Narratives: While news reports initially suggested another minor was driving and confessed, the family's evidence suggests Noah Back, the ATV owner, was involved in the accident (24:39 - 25:03, 33:14 - 34:10).Allegations of Corruption: The family questions if the investigation is being hampered because Back's family is well-connected in the community, and there are allegations he has evaded accountability in the past (38:16 - 39:21).Potential Charges: The sheriff has stated that charges are pending against the survivor who allegedly confessed to driving, and alcohol is believed to be a factor (31:18 - 32:45, 48:21 - 49:09).

This video from Hillbilly Crime covers the murder investigation of 27-year-old Ryan Huff, who was shot in the chest during an altercation at the Bubby Combs Apartments in Perry County, Kentucky (10:44-13:29).Key Details of the Homicide Investigation:Suspect Arrested: 43-year-old Danny Harold Asher was initially sought and subsequently arrested following a search involving multiple agencies (13:38-14:15).Additional Charges: Brian Smith was also charged with murder, and Miranda Cat Connor was charged with hindering apprehension (35:10-35:31).School Lockdown: RW Combs Elementary School was briefly placed on lockdown as a precaution during the search for suspects (24:32-24:53).Related Tragedy in the Community:The video also discusses a recent ATV accident in Vico, Kentucky, that resulted in the death of 16-year-old Emilyn Clark (40:01-44:59). The host highlights potential links between this accident, involving underage individuals and alcohol, and other incidents involving local figures (1:17:02-1:24:22).