UPDATE: Dec. 1 at 3:45 p.m.
A Floyd County judge has delayed the trial for three men charged in the murder of Amber Spradlin until May 2026, citing the need for additional time to complete advanced DNA testing.
The judge said new technology that can separate mixed DNA profiles requires more processing time. The Commonwealth indicated the advanced testing could produce reports up to 1,000 pages long.
During the same hearing, the judge reduced bond for accused killer Michael McKinney from $5 million cash to $1 million in property plus $400,000 in cash.
Spradlin was found dead inside the home of a Prestonsburg dentist in 2023.
UPDATE: Oct. 23 at 6:40 a.m.
The trial for the Amber Spradlin case has been postponed after the prosecutor filed a motion on Monday asking the judge for a delay so they could complete all forensic testing.
Original Story:
It's been 856 days since police say M.K. McKinney stabbed Amber Spradlin to death inside his father's Floyd County home, and the upcoming trial may face another delay.
McKinney, his father local dentist Dr. Michael McKinney, and Josh Mullins were scheduled to go to trial December 1. However, the prosecutor filed a motion yesterday asking for a delay so they can complete all forensic testing.
At least 33 items still need to be analyzed for DNA, according to court documents.
Spradlin's cousin Dr. Debbie Hall couldn't go into specifics but says some evidence not initially thought to yield much information did show DNA, which requires further testing.
"Does the family support this delay? Yes, of course we want everything to get wrapped up as quickly as possible but we don't want things rushed, we want to have some strong convictions," Hall said.
"I think it's going to make it harder for them to deny what they've done," Hall said.
Dr. Michael McKinney and Josh Mullins face seven counts each of complicity to tampering. Police say they helped MK McKinney try to cover up the crime.
According to the indictment, all three are accused of removing, concealing or destroying the clothes MK wore during the killing, then cleaning Spradlin's blood from the kitchen and laundry sinks, as well as removing or destroying a surveillance camera that would have captured Spradlin's murder.
While all three men maintain their innocence, Spradlin's family believes the DNA findings will prove otherwise.
"People need to know what was done and what these findings are. I just think people need to know what was done," Hall said.
All three defendants go to court Thursday when a judge will take up the commonwealth's motion to continue the trial.
