UPDATE: June 24 at 11:45 a.m.
34th Judicial Circuit Commonwealth Attorney, Ronnie Bowling, confirmed to LEX News that a grand jury indicted Billy Proffitt for first-degree manslaughter in the death of 60-year-old Gene Cooper.
Trooper Scottie Pennington reported that on June 23, KSP requested the assistance of the US Marshals Service (USMS) - Central Kentucky Task Force London office in finding and apprehending Proffitt Jr.
Pennington added that authorities believed that Proffitt could be in Jackson County or McDowell County in North Carolina. A lead was reportedly sent to the USMS Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force. At around 9 p.m. on June 23 authorities took Proffitt into custody in Marion, North Carolina.
According to Pennington, Proffitt is set to be extradited back to Kentucky.
Original Story:
A McCreary County family stood outside a courthouse Wednesday to protest the death of their loved one.
Gene Cooper's family gathered outside the McCreary County courthouse to protest, demanding an arrest more than 60 days after the 60-year-old's beating death was ruled a homicide.
Cooper died at a home in McCreary County. His death was ruled a homicide by the McCreary County coroner, but no arrests have been made.
Covering Kentucky
Family demands charges in McCreary County man's fatal beating
"We want to see somebody arrested," Cooper's brother, Alvis Miller, said.
The entire incident was captured on Ring video camera, which Cooper's family shared with Lex News. The footage shows Cooper arriving at the home, then 15 minutes later lying eerily still on the porch.
Miller says Cooper was at the home to pick up his truck's title from his girlfriend's house. State police say he was trying to break in.
"If he was there to fight, he would have fought back. I don't believe he was there to fight. I believe he was there for the same thing he'd been getting for the prior two months," Miller said.
The family's protest carried the message "Justice for Gene" as they called on investigators to act.
"It's been over 60 days. Nothing's been done. The detective keeps saying he's waiting on evidence. What more evidence does he need?" Miller said.
Miller says he will not stop until someone is behind bars.
"I hope it opens their eyes that when somebody commits murder you're supposed to be placed under arrest," Miller said.
You can watch the full story of Gene Cooper here.
