Whitley County couple’s murder trial delayed

The trial of a southern Whitley County couple, who are accused of beating a woman to death last year, has been postponed.

Chris James Lowe, 39, and Lori Mattie, 38, were scheduled to stand trial April 23 in Whitley Circuit Court on charges of murder and first-degree unlawful imprisonment in the death of Michelle Marlow, 36, of Williamsburg.

Lowe is also charged with tampering with physical evidence for allegedly moving Marlow’s body after having beaten her.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Allen Trimble told Whitley Circuit Judge Paul Winchester Monday afternoon that he is still waiting on the results of lab tests, and couldn’t say how long that would take.

Winchester set a June 15 status hearing to see whether the test results are back yet, and he could set a new trial date during that hearing.

About 7:12 p.m. on July 23, 2017, Kentucky State Police Sgt. Tony Dingess responded to a call about an unresponsive female lying in the roadway on Old Mud Creek Road.

Dingess found blood near Mattie and Lowe’s residence and a trail of blood leading to their residence, according to their arrest citations.

When Dingess entered the home, he found Marlow dead in a bedroom, and both Chris Lowe and Mattie with blood on them, an arrest citation stated.

Chris Lowe and Mattie were in a relationship and were living together. Marlow was an acquaintance, who spent the night at their home, KSP Detective Eric Moore testified during a preliminary hearing last year.

Charles Lowe, who called 911, told police that he saw two females lying in the road and one was not breathing, Moore testified.

Another witness later saw Chris Lowe dragging someone from the roadway, Moore testified.

Police believe that a large walking stick, which was broken in two, was used to assault Marlow.

One piece of it was recovered in the road near a large pool of blood. Police recovered the other piece in the bathroom of Mattie and Lowe’s residence with blood splattered on it, according to testimony.

Chris Lowe believed that Marlow stole money from him, Moore testified about the alleged motive for the killing.

Mattie is also charged with being a second-degree persistent felony offender in the case due to a prior 2012 Whitley County felony conviction for theft $10,000 or more, according to her indictment.