Son pleads guilty in mother’s death

Published 9:50 am Friday, January 18, 2019

A Winchester man may serve a year in prison after pleading guilty to reckless homicide for his mother’s death in an intoxicated suicide attempt.

Jeffrey Wisecup, 28, was arrested in October for murder after his mother Sheila Wisecup died Oct. 21. He did not report her death for five days.

Thursday in Clark Circuit Court, Wisecup pleaded guilty to reckless homicide. Prosecutors recommended that he serve one year, which is the minimum sentence allowed.

Email newsletter signup

Wisecup told Clark Circuit Judge Jean Chenault Logue both he and his mother were intoxicated.

“We were drinking all day,” he said. “That night, she was talking about committing suicide. I didn’t take her seriously at first.”

He said she began injecting insulin, but he passed out. Wisecup said he woke later and heard her having a seizure. He said he did not call for help, but moved her into her room and shut the door.

“I checked on her (the next morning) and she was gone,” he said.

Police said Jeffrey Wisecup did not seek medical attention for his mother and did not report her death for five days. During that time, he told other people that she died, but told them not to tell anyone.

Detectives said Wisecup said he and his mother talked about committing suicide together.

Police said they did not find a suicide note at the scene.

“He was not sober, but was conscious and aware she could die,” his attorney Valetta Browne said.

Wisecup is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 14. He remains in the Clark County Detention Center.

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