UPDATE: March 18 at 3:30 p.m.
Austin Prather, a Science Hill man charged in the double murder of his father and grandfather, plead guilty to all charges and was sentenced in a Pulaski County courtroom Wednesday.
Police say that Prather shot and killed 67-year-old Ardyth Prather Jr. and 43-year-old Ardyth Prather III at their homes in November 2023.
Prather's grandmother was also found stabbed and shot, but "had fled to a nearby residence who contacted 911" following the attack, the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office said in a post to social media.
He then reportedly fled the state and was later arrested in Evansville, Indiana.
Prather was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole on Wednesday for two counts of murder, a 20-year sentence for one count attempted murder, as well as 20-year sentences for each of the three counts of robbery. Prather was also sentenced to five years on the charge of tampering with physical evidence, to be run concurrently with the murder sentencing.
“I would like to commend the Major Crimes Task Force and want to thank all of the detectives for their hard work. I would also like to thank Commonwealth Attorney David Dalton for his prosecution of this case and for bringing closure to the victims,” said PCSO Sheriff Bobby Jones.
Original Story:
A Pulaski County man accused of the 2023 murder of his grandfather and father in Science Hill is set to appear in court on Wednesday to change his plea, court documents reveal.
Austin Prather was arrested and charged in November 2023 after police say he shot and killed 67-year-old Ardyth Prather Jr. and 43-year-old Ardyth Prather III. Prather's grandmother was also found with serious injuries.
Prather fled the scene of the shooting and was later arrested in Indiana, and entered a not guilty plea in December 2023.
He is charged with two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, three counts of first degree robbery, and tampering with physical evidence.
