Spradlin murder suspect’s lawyer files to dismiss indictment in Floyd County

FLOYD COUNTY, KY (WOWK) — The attorney for Michael McKinney III, who is charged with the murder of Amber Spradlin, has filed a motion to dismiss the indictment.

Michael McKinney III, 24, Michael McKinney II, 56, and Josh Mullins, 23, all of Martin, Kentucky, were indicted on July 30 in connection to Spradlin’s death back in June 2023. She was found dead in a home along Arkansas Creek Road in Martin. She was 38 years old.

The documents allege the indictment was not returned in open court or filed with the Circuit Clerk before the indictment warrant was issued or served, causing “a significant defect in the indictment which cannot be cured at this point.”

They said the indictment not being returned in open court breaches “the secrecy of the grand jury” and “prejudices the Defendant by undermining the integrity of the grand jury process.”

“This significant defect in the indictment calls into question the entire validity of the indictment and any subsequent proceedings based on that indictment,” the document said. “There is no remedy except a dismissal that can correct a flaw in the indictment this significant.”

According to those indictments, McKinney III stabbed Spradlin repeatedly, killing her. All three are charged for allegedly removing, concealing or destroying the handle from the knife used, clothing worn by McKinney III, a surveillance camera, a digital video recorder and a hard drive, as well as cleaning up or removing blood from a kitchen and laundry or utility room sink.

Their indictments said the cameras “would have captured the murder,” and the recorder would have recorded that footage. The hard drive was to a computer with information about the surveillance cameras, according to the indictments.

McKinney III is charged with murder and seven counts of complicity to tampering with physical evidence. Both McKinney II and Mullins are charged with seven counts of complicity to tampering with physical evidence, according to the indictments.

The Kentucky State Police said McKinney III was booked in the Rowan County Detention Center, and McKinney II and Mullins in the Floyd County Detention Center.

McKinney II has since been released on bond and his dentistry license was temporarily suspended . McKinney III’s bond was set at $5 million and Mullins’ bond was set at $100,000.

Since Spradlin’s death, her story has gained widespread attention. A recent wrongful death and negligence lawsuit filed by Spradlin’s estate details what allegedly led to Spradlin being in the home the night she was killed. That lawsuit also lists public officials , including law enforcement and those in the house where she was found as defendants.

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