Friends claim that a former Kentucky sheriff, who fatally shot a judge, was displaying signs of instability in the days leading up to the murder.

In a dramatic turn of events, the ongoing trial of Sheriff Shawn "Mickey" Stines, who is accused of murdering a local judge, has taken an unexpected twist with the revelation of his mental health evaluation.

Sheriff Stines, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder in November 2024, was diagnosed with an "acute stress reaction" by the Leslie County Jail. However, just four days after the alleged incident, he was evaluated as being in an active state of psychosis. This information was made public by his defense team in an attempt to have the murder case against him thrown out.

The evaluation, conducted while Sheriff Stines was in the Leslie County Jail, revealed that he was largely unaware of his surroundings and only aware of things jail staff told him. This, according to his defense, raises questions about his state of mind at the time of the shooting.

A Kentucky State Police detective who responded to the scene testified that Stines was "in his sane mind" at the time of the shooting. However, several witnesses testified that Stines' paranoia was growing prior to the incident, expressing fear that "they" were going to kill his wife and daughter without specifying who "they" were.

The alleged encounter between Stines and Judge Kevin Mullins, who was the victim of the shooting, is said to have taken place at least in part in the judge's office, according to the complaint. It was also revealed that Stines' teenage daughter's phone number was found in Judge Mullins' call records. However, further investigation revealed that the call to the minor had been made by Stines using Mullins' phone during their confrontation in the judge's chambers just before the shooting.

Stines' defense team is asking for a judge to release him on bail, arguing that the state is still required to prove at a hearing that there is enough evidence to presume Stines is guilty in order to keep him locked up. This is in accordance with Kentucky's constitution, which allows suspects to be held without bail for a crime where the death penalty is on the table.

The defense is also fighting to keep the case in Letcher County, arguing that moving the trial away from the mountains could expose Stines to discrimination against people from the poorest part of the state. If convicted, Stines faces the possibility of the death penalty.

In a bizarre twist, it was revealed that Stines had an appointment with his family doctor the day before the shooting, where he was accompanied by friends who were concerned about his level of stress and loss of sleep. He was also given antipsychotic medication, risperidone, while in the Leslie County Jail.

However, there are no available search results providing information about the psychiatric treatment recommendations for Stines in September 2024. Local attorney Daniel Dotson had warned Judge Kevin Mullins before the shooting that Stines was losing control and couldn't handle the pressure.

Neither side has publicly discussed a motive for the shooting. The case continues to unfold, with the mental health evaluation playing a significant role in the defense's strategy.