The murder case against a Princeton man charged with the death of his wife was bound over to the grand jury after a preliminary hearing in Caldwell District Court Monday morning.
42-year old Byron Black is accused of fatally shooting Kelly Black, whose body was found by Princeton Police at a home on Center Street on Sunday, January 28th, during a welfare check.
During Monday morning’s hearing, Detective Jacob Stephens with Kentucky State Police was called to the stand to provide testimony about the murder investigation and what led to the arrest of Mr. Black.
click to download audioHe said detectives also observed luggage in the front passenger seat and partially in the back seat.
During the investigation, Stephens said they found two sets of keys inside the residence and a phone suspected to be Mrs. Black’s.
In addition, the investigation determined Kelly Black had flown into Nashville, Tennessee on Thursday, January 25th, with security video showing her getting into the vehicle at the airport.
click to download audioDet. Stephens said the vehicle was taken for evidence to be processed at a later time. He mentioned that Mr. Black was known to have his 5-year old daughter with him, but they were not at the home when police arrived. Stephens said detectives then obtained a warrant for Mr. Black’s arrest who was found at a local motel.
Furthermore, he said detectives also found blood and a shell casing inside the car, along with a handgun in Mr. Black’s pickup truck at the motel.
click to download audioAccording to the detective, the car found in the driveway was the same vehicle that Kelly Black was picked up in at the airport. He also stated that when her body was found she was wearing the same clothes as when she got into the car at the Nashville airport.
After hearing all the evidence presented by Detective Stephens, Judge Matthew Schalk forwarded the case to the next session of the Caldwell County grand jury.
Black was represented by public defender, Mary Rohrer at Monday morning’s hearing.
