Kentucky State Police have identified a cold case victim, are investigating a Caldwell County women’s death and arrested individuals who fired at troopers during a police pursuit. Here’s a roundup of these three recent cases.
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Kentucky State Police have identified a victim in a 1990 cold case that occurred in Daviess County.
On Jan. 7, 1990, an unidentified man was found deceased in a wooded area off Pleasant Valley Road in Philpot. The unidentified male had been shot several times, beaten and was missing his hands and feet.
Attempts to identify the victim over the years have been unsuccessful. Recently, with the assistance of the Trans Doe Task Force, the victim was identified through genealogy testing.
The man was identified as William Dennis Mathews of Louisville. He was born on Oct. 12, 1952.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Kentucky State Police Post 16 at 270-826-3312.
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Kentucky State Police are investigating a Princeton woman’s death.
At 7:11 p.m. Thursday, the Caldwell County dispatch requested KSP Post 2 assist with a death investigation.
A preliminary investigation revealed Dororthy D. Sparks, 93, of Princeton, was found deceased inside of her residence. An autopsy is pending.
Detective Jacob Stephens is leading the investigation.
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Two men were arrested in connection with firing at state troopers during a police chase in Hopkins County.
At approximately 11:36 p.m. Thursday, Kentucky State Police attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation in Dawson Springs.
The vehicle and suspect failed to stop, and a vehicle pursuit ensued through Dawson Springs. During the pursuit, gunshots were fired at the trooper from the suspect vehicle.
Through an extensive investigation, Kentucky State Police, with the assistance of the Madisonville Police Department and the Dawson Springs Police Department, located and arrested the driver of the fleeing vehicle, Kristopher Barker, 33, of Hiram, Georgia.
Police also arrested Tanner Southerland, 32, of Dawson Springs. During the arrest, Kirsten Bean, 27, of Dawson Springs, was also taken into custody on multiple outstanding warrants for unrelated charges.
Barker was charged with conspiracy to attempted murder of a police officer, first-degree fleeing or evading police, reckless driving, and no taillights.
Southerland was charged with attempted murder of a police officer.
Bean was charged with warrants out of Hopkins County for failure to appear on several drug-related and traffic-related charges.
Barker, Southerland, and Bean were lodged in the Hopkins County Detention Center.