KNOX COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — A Whitley County man is due to appear Tuesday morning in Knox County on charges related to the slaying of his girlfriend.
After six weeks on the run, Nicholas Rucker was captured July 4 and charged in the death of Vicki Burke Conner.
Witnesses told police Rucker and Conner were arguing the morning she was killed.
They said Conner was making a grocery list when she was called to the back of the house. Moments later, witnesses said, a gunshot rang out and Rucker emerged from the bedroom. He was holding a handgun, had blood on his hands and said Conner had shot herself, the witnesses said.
Rucker then ran off and evaded capture for weeks.
"He was spotted twice to my knowledge that were deemed credible. He evaded two apprehension teams by killing his own scent -- able to use water to kill his scent for tracking dogs," said Commonwealth's Attorney Ronnie Bowling. "He has what we understand to be a good idea of the local topography and that kind of thing. But, at the end of the day, you can't run forever."
Earlier this month in Whitley County, Rucker pleaded not guilty to murder, tampering with physical evidence and being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun.
On Tuesday, Rucker is due to be arraigned in Knox County on charged of fleeing and evading police, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia.
