INFAMOUS: The Murder of Amber Spradlin
In June of 2023, a woman was brutally murdered in Floyd County, Kentucky, while attending a gathering at the home of a local dentist. The slaying rocked the small communities of eastern Kentucky as months ticked by, rumors swirled and no one was held accountable. Finally, in July 2024, three men were arrested in connection to her death. One man has been charged with murder and the trial is just right around the corner.
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From left to right: Grandparents Merle and Margie Osborne, Aunt Missy Samons, Cousin Debbie Hall, Amber Spradlin, Aunt Amanda Hall.
Courtesy: Debbie Hall
Prestonsburg Chief of Police Randy Woods.
Credit: City of Prestonsburg, Kentucky Police Department / Facebook
Timeline:
Evening
Amber Spradlin leaves for work in Prestonsburg, Kentucky.
Just before 8:30 a.m.
Surveillance footage shows Michael “MK” McKinney III’s truck leaving the area.
About 10:37 a.m.
Dr. Michael McKinney II calls 911 and responders find Amber deceased on the living room couch.
MK appears at the state police post to provide a DNA sample; investigators note multiple fresh scratches on his forearms.
A Floyd County grand jury formally indicts MK for murder, and also indicts Dr. Michael McKinney and Josh Mullins on tampering with physical evidence.
Seasons Inn and Restaurant, Martin, KY
The former location of the after-hours drinking spot where the group was before going to the McKinney residence.
The Brickhouse Restaurant
Amber’s workplace and where she spent the evening before going out.
The McKinney Residence
Where the after-party was held and where Amber was found deceased.
Morehead, Kentucky
The city MK returned to after leaving the residence following the party.
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Episode Source Material
- Original reporting by Crime Junkie staff
- The Courier Journal (Louisville, KY): Body of woman, 33, is found wedged in window of bar, by the Eastern Kentucky Bureau. Published December 16, 1988. Accessed October 30, 2025.
- Floyd County Times (Prestonsburg, KY): Body found. Published December 21, 1988. Accessed October 21, 2025.
- WYMT Mountain News: Nearing one year since Krista Garrett went missing, family finally talks, by Lacey Roberts. Published August 28, 2020. Accessed October 30, 2025.
- WYMT Mountain News: ‘As long as it takes. We’re not gonna give up’: Floyd County family continues search for missing woman, by Buddy Forbes. Published December 14, 2020. Accessed October 30, 2025.
- WYMT Mountain News: ‘I want answers’: Family and friends of Floyd County woman looking for answers following death, by Jordan Mullins. Published September 18, 2021. Accessed October 30, 2025.
- The Daily Independent (Ashland, KY): KSP launches death investigation, reports foul play, by Mary Jane Epling. Published June 20, 2023. Accessed September 30, 2025 via LexisNexis.
- The Daily Independent (Ashland, KY): Vigil lights life in hearts of Floyd County, by Temecka Evans. Published June 22, 2023. Accessed September 30, 2025 via LexisNexis.
- The Daily Independent (Ashland, KY): KSP: No arrest in Floyd Co. murder, by Mary Jane Epling. Published June 22, 2023. Accessed September 30, 2025 via LexisNexis.
- WCHS TV (Prestonsburg, KY): Prestonsburg, Kentucky, police chief resigns; interim chief named, by staff. Published June 27, 2023. Accessed October 30, 2025.
- The Daily Independent (Ashland, KY): Family of murdered Floyd woman wants answers, justice, by Aaron Snyder. Published June 29, 2023. Accessed September 30, 2025 via LexisNexis.
- The Lexington Herald Leader (Lexington, KY): Family of Eastern Kentucky woman stabbed to death says 911 didn’t respond fast enough, by Rick Childress and Hannah Stanley. Published June 29, 2023. Accessed September 30, 2025 via LexisNexis.
- Mountain Top Media (Prestonsburg, KY): Coroner: Remains of missing Floyd woman positively identified, by Ralph Davis. Published June 18, 2024. Accessed October 30, 2025.
- WYMT Mountain News (Prestonsburg, KY): Remains of Kandi Green Gonzalez found after two years, by Madison Carmouche. Published June 29, 2023. Accessed October 30, 2025.
- NBC News: 3 people are charged in a Kentucky woman’s fatal stabbing, but her family says local police are at fault, too, by Tim Stelloh and Rachel White. Published August 25, 2024. Accessed October 21, 2025.
- LEX18: Family releases more about 911 call made hours before Amber Spradlin’s death, by Leigh Searcy and Morgan Eads. Published August 30, 2023. Accessed October 21, 2025.
- The Lexington Herald Leader (Lexington, KY): Eastern Kentucky town becomes a ‘powder keg’ as questions loom about unsolved murder, by Rick Childress. Published September 23, 2023. Accessed September 30, 2025 via LexisNexis.
- The Lexington Herald Leader (Lexington, KY): Lawsuit in Kentucky woman’s homicide says local officials were negligent in 911 service, by Bill Estep. Published June 4, 2024. Accessed September 30, 2025 via LexisNexis.
- The Lexington Herald Leader (Lexington, KY): Father, son arrested in high-profile Kentucky stabbing death. One charged with murder, by Bill Estep. Published July 30, 2024. Accessed September 30, 2025 via LexisNexis.
- The Daily Independent (Ashland, KY): Rowan man arrested in connection to Spradlin murder, by Mary Jane Epling. Published July 30, 2024. Accessed September 30, 2025 via LexisNexis.
- The Daily Independent (Ashland, KY): $5M bond for Rowan murder suspect, by Mary Jane Epling. Published July 31, 2024. Accessed September 30, 2025 via LexisNexis.
- The Lexington Herald Leader (Lexington, KY): Judge sets $5 million bond for man accused in high-profile Eastern Kentucky murder, by Bill Estep. Published August 2, 2024. Accessed September 30, 2025 via LexisNexis.
- The Associated Press: Son of Kentucky dentist charged in year-old killing; dentist charged with hiding evidence. Published August 2, 2024. Accessed September 30, 2025 via LexisNexis.
- The Courier-Journal Online (Louisville, KY): Prosecutors file new evidence against eastern KY dentist and son accused in 2023 murder, by Killian Baarlaer. Published October 26, 2024. Accessed September 30, 2025 via LexisNexis.
- The Lexington Herald Leader (Lexington, KY): Prosecutor says DNA on victim in high-profile Kentucky murder is a match to man charged, by Bill Estep. Published October 29, 2024. Accessed September 30, 2025 via LexisNexis.
- WYMT Mountain News (Prestonsburg, KY): Men charged in Amber Spradlin murder appear in court, by Buddy Forbes. Published July 24, 2025. Accessed October 30, 2025.
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