5 arrested after death of key witness in Kentucky sex trafficking case

HARLAN COUNTY, Ky. (LEX News) — The Bell County Sheriff's Department has released new information about arrests connected to the August death of Bobby Smith, a key witness in a sex trafficking case against his brother.

Smith's brother, Darrell Carnahan, was arrested in July on multiple sex offenses.

Smith, who held power of attorney for Carnahan, was a key witness against him in the sex trafficking case.

Smith was found deceased in Harlan during the last week of August.

"An investigation revealed that Carnahan had contacted Tonya Monroe, Cody Pace, and Landon Pace from the Bell County Detention Center, where he has been housed since his arrest," a sheriff's spokesperson said. "Carnahan asked the trio to reach out to witnesses and change their testimony against him. Bobby Smith, with power of attorney for his brother, was a key witness against Carnahan in the sex trafficking case and was found deceased in Harlan the last week of August."

Investigators said Smith was not complying with requests to send money to Carnahan at the jail.

"Monroe and the Pace brothers had moved into Carnahan's residence after he was arrested," the sheriff's spokesperson said. "Through monitored jail text messages, investigators were able to establish the three had benefited financially and residentially from the death of Bobby Smith."

Investigators said the three had burned evidence, hidden a cell phone, and deleted drug-related evidence.

"Tonya Monroe was found in possession of Smith's food and debit card, and it was determined that the text messages reflect a direct monetary gain from Bobby Smith's death," the sheriff's spokesperson said. "Another woman, Starr Halcolmb, was charged with tampering with physical evidence."

Law enforcement also arrested 31-year-old Joseph Jackson, of Bell County, on charges of commercial sex activity and engaging in organized crime.

The United States Marshal Service Central Kentucky Fugitive Task Force led the apprehension, assisted by local agencies.

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