Third suspect in July slaying caught

(Story by Jeff Ledington, Mountain Advocate)

The third suspect in the July 30 slaying of Matthew Welsh has been arrested.

James Young

James Young, 35, of Corbin was one of three men indicted in October in connection with Welsh’s death. Charles McVey, 38, of Woodbine, and Joseph Masters, 34, of Corbin, were arrested shortly after the July incident.

While Masters and McVey were indicted for murder, Young was indicted for complicity to commit murder. All three were indicted on four counts of kidnapping and first degree burglary.

Young was arrested at 1 p.m. on Nov. 17 after Kentucky State Police executed a warrant for his arrest. He was lodged into the Knox County Detention Center. His bond is set at $500,000 bond.

Welsh, 36, was killed at his residence on Heddon Flats Road, off of Tower Road.

According to the indictment, Young allegedly aided Masters and Welsh in planning or committing the murder.

According to KSP, Masters, Masters’ wife and three others had been at a party at the residence the night before the murder.

Masters, McVey and a third male, later identified as Young, returned to the residence on July 30 armed with knives and a gun. They forced their way inside and took Deborah Powers, William Miller, Tommy Dean and Welsh captive on the couch.

Witnesses told police that Masters was threatening to stab them and cut their fingers off because his wife had been raped by one of the three other men attending the party.

The witnesses told police that an altercation ensued between Masters and Welsh during which Masters allegedly stabbed Welsh.

McVey also allegedly stabbed Welsh, according to the witnesses.