Murder trial back on docket

Published 1:42 pm Monday, May 7, 2018

Murder suspect Lonnie Martin is back on the trial docket in Clark County for his cousin’s death in 1995.

Martin, 44, of Stanton, has been incarcerated since 2013 when he was arrested for the death of Winchester resident Kyla Kline in Montgomery County.

Thursday, Clark Circuit Judge Jean Chenault Logue set his Clark County trial for Sept. 24 with a status conference in July. Prosecutors estimated the trial would take three to four days.

Email newsletter signup

Before that, Martin is scheduled to be tried in Rowan County for Kline’s death. His Montgomery County case has been delayed a number of times for a variety of issues. The just in the case also moved the trial to Rowan County, which is in the same district, because of pre-trial publicity.

Clark County prosecutors have said they would not try Martin until his other case is resolved.

Lonnie Martin was arrested following his arrest in Montgomery County. Winchester Police detectives interviewed Martin in connection with the Oct. 29, 1995 death of Joseph B. Martin. During that interview, Lonnie Martin made statements which led detectives to reopen the investigation and to his arrest on Clark County charges.

Joseph Martin fell from a viaduct over the railroad tracks near Washington Street. Family members said Joseph Martin was dragged by a passing train.

Kline disappeared in July 2013. Her body was found nearly a month later on a farm near the Montgomery-Clark county line. Detectives said they used the GPS signal from Kline’s cell phone and traced it to the farm.

About Fred Petke

Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.

email author More by Fred