Final defendant in 2019 murder case sentenced to more than 60 years in prison

The last remaining defendant in the 2019 killing of Billy Lawson has been sentenced to more than 60 years in prison.

Jordan Miracle, 26, of Williamsburg, entered a guilty plea in May to charges of murder, tampering with physical evidence, attempting to escape from a penitentiary and an amended count of second-degree robbery as part of an agreement with prosecutors. He appeared in Whitley Circuit Court on July 3 to be sentenced on those charges.

According to the Whitley Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, Judge Paul Winchester ruled to follow the sentencing recommendations set forth in Miracle’s agreement. Per that agreement, Miracle was sentenced to serve 45 years for the murder charge, five years for tampering with physical evidence, 10 years for second-degree robbery and five years for the escape charge.

The sentences will all be served consecutively for a total of 65 years.

Three counts of kidnapping that Miracle initially faced stemming from his role in a failed escape attempt at the Whitley County Detention Center last April were dismissed as part of the agreement.

Miracle was the one remaining defendant left in each of his two cases, with all other individuals having pled guilty for their roles in each.

The two other men charged in Lawson’s death, Jamie and James Muse, each entered guilty pleas for their roles in Lawson’s death in March.

Jamie Muse entered a guilty plea to charges of murder, tampering with physical evidence and an amended count of second-degree robbery. James Muse entered a guilty plea to charges of first-degree robbery, tampering with physical evidence and an amended count of facilitation to murder. Prosecutors recommended a total sentence of 60 years for Jamie Muse and 15 years for James Muse.

Both men were sentenced Monday in Whitley Circuit Court, prior to Miracle’s plea. Winchester ruled to follow the recommendations for their sentencings as set forth in their agreements.

The two other men facing charges in the WCDC escape attempt, Nicholas Rucker and Paul Brock, have also entered guilty pleas in their cases. In February, Rucker pled guilty to charges of attempting to escape from a penitentiary. In March, Brock pled guilty to attempting to escape from a penitentiary and three counts of kidnapping. Rucker and Brock have also both been sentenced.

Case History

Lawson’s killing took place in a building located at 12076 US25W near Jellico, Tennessee, where he operated a game room.

His body was discovered after several people became concerned when they couldn’t get in touch with him and went to the establishment looking for him. He was stabbed 39 times.

Kentucky State Police Detective Billy Correll testified during a preliminary hearing in February 2019 in Whitley District Court that Jordan Miracle and Jamie Muse each claimed that the other was responsible for Lawson’s stabbing, and that James Muse drove the trio away after the killing. Then their vehicle broke down a few miles from the crime scene.

On the day Lawson’s body was discovered, Tommy Leach Towing contacted police after towing James Muse’s black Kia Spectra. Police found red stains inside that looked like blood and three unmatched kitchen type knives in the front passenger side floorboard of the vehicle.

In April 2022, Brock and Rucker participated in an attempted escape from the WCDC. During that incident, detention center staff were lured into a cell by a fabricated medical emergency before the pair allegedly locked the staff members in the cell and jammed the lock.

Rucker and Brock eventually made their way to the WCDC control room, where they threatened to kill the correction officer on duty if he didn’t open the doors. The pair were ultimately unable to get out as the last door standing in their way was locked, and police showed up a short time later.

According to police, Miracle participated in the planning stages of the escape.