FRENCHBURG, Ky. (LEX 18) – A Menifee County man has entered a plea in the 2017 death of his wife.
Austin Prater appeared in court to plead guilty to second-degree manslaughter, failure to render aid, leaving the scene of an accident, violating an E.P.O. and tampering with physical evidence. He admitted to killing his wife, 18-year-old Mariah Prater.
Mariah’s body was found in the ditch on the side of the road.
State Police say that Prater told them his wife fell out of the truck as they were driving down the road. Police say they believe he ran Mariah over, then got out of the truck, called 911, and threw his phone in the grass before driving away.
She had an emergency protective order against him in Anderson County, claiming that Austin had punched and beaten her.
The couple has a 5-year-old daughter.
He was initially charged with murder.
Austin Prater will be sentenced on May 10
