A Madisonville man was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday in Hopkins Circuit Court after pleading guilty in the August 2020 murder of Nichole Merrill.
In addition to the murder charge, 4th Judicial Circuit Commonwealth’s Attorney Kathryn Senter said Dennis Stone also pled guilty to first-degree assault with a 10-year sentence and to 12 counts of first-degree wanton endangerment with a 5-year sentence on each count. She noted Stone is considered a violent offender pursuant to Kentucky law.
According to multiple media reports, the charges stem from an August 14, 2020, shooting that killed Merrill and injured a toddler.
Senter credited the positive outcome of the case to the outstanding police investigation of Detective Joe Stratton from the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department and the many officers who responded and assisted in investigating the murder.
