Fugitive Rapist Floyd Ray Cook Shot, Killed by Kentucky Police

10-30-2015 Kentucky:

A rapist who was the target of a six-day manhunt after allegedly shooting a Tennessee cop was killed by police early Friday in what officials described as a "scary" conclusion.

Floyd Ray Cook, 62, was fatally shot near Burkesville, Kentucky, after being traced to a wooded area with the help of a police helicopter's thermal camera.

Law enforcement agents converged on a building in the hunt for Cook, who was accused of shooting a Tennessee police officer during a traffic stop on Saturday.

Kentucky State Police Trooper Billy Gregory said two colleagues and a U.S. Marshal encountered the fugitive on an embankment near Kentucky Route 61 about seven miles south of Burkesville.

"Cook had a handgun and gunfire was exchanged," Gregory said. "Cook was wounded and was pronounced dead at the scene. No officers were injured."

Earlier, Cook approached a home in Cumberland County near the Tennessee border at around 2:40 p.m. local time (3:40 p.m. ET) and asked for a ride, but the couple refused and called police, Gregory said.

Woman who claimed self defense in fatal stabbing near Bullitt County rest stop now charged with murder

6-25-15 Kentucky:

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A California woman told investigators she fatally stabbed a man in self defense near a Bullitt County rest stop last week, but police now say it was murder.

Shepherdsville police held a press conference Thursday morning to discuss the case.

Nicole Skyberg, 26 is accused of stabbing 45-year-old Aaron Jerrell on Saturday. Officers found Jerrell's body on an exit ramp near a rest stop along Interstate 65.

Police have confirmed that Jerrell, who is from Alabama, was a registered sex offender.

Police say Skyberg, who has been a person of interest from the start, was a passenger in the car with Jerrell.

Kentucky fugitive killed in shootout with police after five-day manhunt

10-30-15 Kentucky:

The fugitive who police say tried to murder an officer, sparking a massive, five-day manhunt, died in a shootout with Kentucky State Police early Friday.

Floyd Ray Cook, 62, a convicted rapist and robber, had been on the run since Saturday afternoon, when he allegedly shot and wounded a Tennessee police officer.

Police said two troopers and a U.S. Marshal encountered Cook Friday after responding to a report of shots fired near an embankment on Kentucky Route 61 in Burkesville. When they arrived, Cook and the officers exchanged fire.

Cook was wounded in the shootout and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Cumberland County Coroner. Cook was only armed with a handgun, according to police. No officers were injured by the gunfire.

Police: Man stabbed near rest stop may have been killed in self defense

6-21-15 Kentucky:

BULLITT COUNTY, Ky. (WDRB) - Police say the man stabbed near a rest stop along I-65 in Bullitt County may have been killed in self defense.

Raymond Logsdon was near the scene Saturday afternoon.

"Police came through here, they were doing about 75-80 coming through the rest area here so something was up," Logsdon said.

Shepherdsville Police say 45-year-old Aaron Michael Jerrell of Tuscumbia, Alabama was stabbed in the arm and bled to death.

His body was found on the exit ramp.

Authorities have not released much information about Jerrell but have confirmed he was a registered sex offender. Online records show he was convicted of raping a 14-year-old girl in 2000 in Florida.

Federal inmate dies after attack at prison

8-15-2014 Kentucky:

PINE KNOT, Ky. (AP) — A federal inmate serving a 40-year sentence for child-related sex offenses has died after being attacked at a southern Kentucky prison.

Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn says 69-year-old Donald John Post Sr. of League City, Texas, died Wednesday as a result of injuries sustained during an attack inside his cell a day earlier at United States Penitentiary McCreary in Pine Knot.

Post pleaded guilty and was sentenced earlier this year in federal court in Texas to charges of sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography.

Ginn says after the attack, Post was taken to a Tennessee hospital before being transferred to the University of Kentucky Medical Center for specialized care.

An autopsy has been completed.

Ginn did not give the specifics of Post's injuries on Friday. ..Source.. by ABC36.com

Grand jury to decide charge against man accused in sex offender's death

7-3-2013 Kentucky:

A grand jury will consider charges against a Winchester man accused of punching a sex offender, who died from his injuries Sunday.

In a hearing Wednesday, Judge Brandy O. Brown waived the case against Demetrious Morton, 35, to the grand jury despite a request from public defender Kyle Morris to reduce the initial charge against Morton. Morton was charged with manslaughter, but a family member insisted Wednesday the killing was accidental.

Morton is accused of punching David Bailey, 51, a sex offender who was not compliant with registration rules, on June 22 after Bailey talked to children in a car on Denny Avenue, police and court records say.

Bailey was told by someone in the house to leave the area after he stopped to talk to the children, police Sgt. Tom Beall testified Wednesday. Morton approached and started yelling.

When Bailey lifted his hands in a shrug of sorts, Morton punched him in the face once, Beall said.

Bailey fell, hitting his head on the pavement.

The base of Bailey's skull was fractured, and he died from bleeding on the brain at the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital, according to the results of an autopsy performed Monday. Morton and witnesses didn't know Bailey was a sex offender listed on the Kentucky State Police registry until after police started to investigate.

State police were unable to provide information Wednesday on the charges that landed Bailey on the sex offenders registry.

Morton told police he punched Bailey because Bailey was talking to the kids, Beall said. Morton also told police that Bailey had raised his hands in a threatening manner.

But witnesses at the scene said Bailey was walking away from the car when the confrontation occurred, Beall testified. Bailey was not aggressive in his arm and hand movements, the witnesses said.

The initial assault charge against Morton was changed to manslaughter after Bailey died. The Clark County grand jury will decide whether that charge stands.

Morton's bond was set at $150,000.

Brown cited a past charge as one of the reasons bond could not be lowered. Though a domestic assault conviction several years ago did not directly relate to the current case, she said, it did show a tendency for violence.

George Morton, Demetrious Morton's uncle, said Morton reacted after Bailey didn't step away from the car when someone in the house told him to. His nephew didn't mean to kill Bailey, Morton said.

"It was just an unfortunate accident," George Morton said. ..Source.. by Morgan Eads