Corbin woman killed; couple charged

Joseph and Christy McFadden

Laurel County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested four people, including the victim’s daughter and son-in-law, after the body of a missing Corbin woman was found in Clay County Tuesday morning.

Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, the department’s public affairs officer, said deputies have charged Joseph Craig McFadden, 31, of Corbin, with murder and his wife, Christy Elizabeth McFadden with complicity to commit murder in connection with the death of Sherry Rose, an employee at the Corbin Walmart whom store employees had reported missing on Monday.

Acciardo said the employees said Rose was last seen at the store at approximately 6 p.m. on June 12.

Acciardo said Joseph and Christy McFadden were arrested Monday night at an apartment on U.S. 25 in Corbin.

“We had developed information about their location. As soon as we pulled up, they hit the door running,” Acciardo said.

Acciardo said that upon questioning by detectives Christy and Joseph McFadden said about 2 p.m. Friday there had been an argument at the home on Thoroughbred Lane off of Ky. 1223, which they shared with Rose. At some point during the argument a knife came out and a struggle ensued during which Rose suffered a fatal stab wound.

“Their contention is that they were struggling over the knife and she stabbed herself,” Acciardo said of the couple adding that deputies have not recovered the knife.

“We may never know what the argument was about,” Acciardo added.

However, Acciardo said video surveillance from Walmart shows Christy and Joseph McFadden entering the store soon afterward.

The couple reportedly purchased cleaning materials including mops, bleach and ammonia.

Deputies reported finding blood stains on the floor of the residences after they forced their way inside Friday as part of their investigation.

In addition, Acciardo said records indicate that Rose’s debit card was used at the ATM located at the store to withdraw $500.

“They are on surveillance using the ATM,” Acciardo said of the couple.

Deputies said Christy and Joseph McFadden then cleaned up the scene and stuffed Rose’s body in a suitcase, using her Honda Civic to transport it to Roark Road off of Ky. 229 near the Knox/Laurel County line. There they met co-defendants Michael Hinkle, 48, of London, and Cody Allen Hinkle, 24, of London.

“They are acquaintances,” Acciardo said when asked how the McFaddens knew the Hinkles.

“After we brought the McFaddens in, we asked where the Rose was and that’s when they told us about the other people involved,” he said.

Upon meeting, deputies said the foursome transferred the body from the suitcase to a blanket and tent.

The Hinkles then used a pickup truck to drive the body to Reynolds Road off of East Ky. 80 in Clay County and dumped it over an embankment.

“I think they were just helping them out because they knew them,” Acciardo said.

Acciardo said when deputies questioned the Hinkles concerning what happened to the body, they revealed where they had dumped it.

“We got one of them to ride over and point out where they had placed the body over the embankment about 3 a.m. Tuesday,” Acciado said.

Deputies said the body was in an advanced state of decomposition.

The body is being sent to the state medical examiner’s office in Frankfort for to confirm the identification.

Joseph McFadden is charged with murder, two counts of tampering with physical evidence, theft by unlawful taking of the value of $500 or more but less than $10,000, abuse of a corpse and first-degree fleeing or evading police. He is being held in the Laurel County Correctional Center on a $250,000 cash bond.

Christy McFadden is charged with complicity to commit murder, two counts of tampering with physical evidence, theft by unlawful taking of the value of $500 or more but less than $10,000, abuse of a corpse and first-degree fleeing or evading police. She is being held in jail on a $250,000 cash bond.

Michael Hinkle and Cody Allen Hinkle are each charged with tampering with physical evidence and abuse of a corpse. Bond for each has been set at $10,000 cash.

All four defendants are scheduled to be arraigned today in Laurel District Court.

Acciardo said law enforcement has been called to the residence multiple times in the past on domestic complaints and other calls.

Christy McFadden had been arrested twice recently.

On May 11, she was charged with public intoxication – controlled substance, second-degree disorderly conduct and first-degree hindering prosecution or apprehension.

According to officials at the Laurel Court Clerk’s office, it was Rose who posted the $1,000 cash bond on May 13.

On May 25, Christy McFadden was arrested again on charges of first-degree hindering prosecution or apprehension, public intoxication – controlled substance, second-degree terroristic threatening, first-degree fleeing or evading police, menacing and resisting arrest.

Officials at the clerk’s office said the cash bond Rose had previously posted was allowed to stand for both cases and Christy McFadden was released again on June 6.