INFAMOUS: The Murder of Amber Spradlin

Summary of INFAMOUS: The Murder of Amber Spradlin

by Audiochuck

55m•November 17, 2025
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Overview of INFAMOUS: The Murder of Amber Spradlin

This Crime Junkie episode (Audiochuck) examines the June 2023 homicide of 38-year-old Amber Spradlin in Floyd County, Kentucky. Amber — a woman with a traumatic past who had recently begun living independently and working part‑time as a hostess — was found dead on a couch at a private residence after an overnight gathering. The episode summarizes the scene, the people who were present, evidence collected (including missing surveillance footage and DNA results), law-enforcement and community reactions, ensuing charges, and outstanding questions as the case moved toward trial.

Key facts and headline takeaways

  • Victim: Amber Spradlin, 38, found dead on a couch at a house on Arkansas Creek Road in Martin, KY (June 18, 2023).
  • Cause: Multiple stab wounds (12) including face, neck, head and torso; throat cut; a knife blade broke off and was recovered lodged in her neck. No signs of sexual assault reported.
  • Scene anomalies: Surveillance cameras and DVR/hard drive that should have recorded the couch area were missing when police arrived.
  • DNA: Biological material under Amber’s fingernails produced a male Y‑STR profile that matched the McKinney paternal line (could be Michael McKinney Sr. or his son MK). Full, definitive nuclear DNA was not available in the initial test.
  • Charges: Michael McKinney III (“MK”) was charged with murder and multiple counts of evidence tampering. Michael McKinney II (father) and a man named Josh were charged with evidence tampering. Roy Kidd (found covered in blood at the scene) and Lauren (Josh’s partner) were not criminally charged.
  • Investigative delays: A backlog at the state crime lab delayed many forensic results; prosecution requested continuances to allow additional testing.
  • Community response: Public outrage, protests, a Justice for Amber Facebook page and a paid billboard; family filed a civil suit including claims about 911 system changes and alleged obstruction/negligence.

Timeline (critical moments)

  • Evening (June 17): Amber works, then goes to local bars. She is invited back to the McKinney house (owner Michael McKinney Sr. owns the Brick House restaurant).
  • ~Afterhours/early morning: Small group (Michael Sr., MK, Roy, Josh, Lauren, Amber) go to the McKinney house. People claim to have partied in the basement; accounts diverge on times people went to bed/left.
  • ~5:50–6:00 a.m.: MK reportedly calls 911 (or calls dispatch) asking for help to take an extremely intoxicated Roy to the drunk tank (call detail is in court filings). MK also made an earlier nearly 8‑minute call to Prestonsburg Police Chief Randy Woods before dialing 911.
  • ~7:00 a.m.: Some account that Amber was alive and sitting on couch (per Lauren’s statement). Roy later says he found Amber and tried to wake her; he was covered in blood and highly intoxicated.
  • 10:30 a.m.: Michael McKinney Sr. calls 911: “There’s a girl on my couch that’s dead … her throat’s slit. There’s blood everywhere.” First responders find Amber on the couch slumped forward, covered in blood; wounds consistent with homicide.
  • Post‑scene: Surveillance cameras/hard drive that should have captured the couch area were missing. A knife with handle missing was recovered; a separate blade fragment was found in Amber’s neck.
  • Months later: Y‑STR testing matches the McKinney paternal line. MK charged with murder; Michael Sr. and Josh charged with tampering. Lab backlog left many items (33+ pieces) awaiting testing. Trial continuances granted.

People involved

  • Amber Spradlin — victim. Recently living independently, worked as a hostess, close to family who monitored her with home cameras.
  • Michael McKinney II — homeowner, dentist, owner of Brick House restaurant; father of MK. Wealthy/prominent local family.
  • Michael “MK” McKinney III — Michael’s son; charged with murder and evidence tampering. Scratches observed on arms days after the homicide.
  • Roy Kidd — 51-year-old radiology tech; found covered in blood, claims to have been extremely intoxicated. Failed a polygraph; his blood was tested and did not match Amber’s under‑nail DNA.
  • Josh Mullins — lived in house (basement); charged with evidence tampering.
  • Lauren — Josh’s girlfriend; reported to police she went to bed and that Amber was alive at that time; has not been charged.
  • Randy Woods — former Prestonsburg police chief who reportedly told family Amber “aspirated” (not murdered). He resigned five days after the homicide.
  • Kentucky State Police — lead investigators; handled scene and testing; faced criticism from family/community about communication.

Evidence, forensics, and investigative issues

  • Autopsy: 12 stab wounds and cutting of throat; blade broke and fragment was lodged in neck.
  • Fingernail scrapings: Male DNA Y‑STR profile matching the McKinney paternal line — identifies the male lineage but cannot distinguish between male relatives in the same paternal line without more complete DNA.
  • Knife(s): An intact knife was recovered planted in the couch; the handle for the blade that broke off in Amber’s neck was missing. Indictment alleges handle, MK clothing, and surveillance equipment/hard drive were removed/destroyed.
  • Surveillance: House had cameras; footage and hardware from the camera pointing at the couch were missing when police arrived.
  • Blood testing: Blood on Roy’s clothing was his; not Amber’s.
  • Polygraph: Roy failed polygraph on core questions (saw/committed murder, helped cover up). Polygraph results are generally inadmissible in trial.
  • Lab backlog: Kentucky crime lab delays delayed testing and arrests; prosecution later sought continuances to test an additional ~33 items.

Legal status and charges

  • MK (Michael McKinney III): Charged with murder and eight counts of evidence tampering (indictment alleges he killed Amber and removed/destroyed evidence).
  • Michael McKinney II and Josh: Charged with evidence tampering (allegedly helped remove camera/hardware, knife handle, clothing, and cleaned blood from sinks).
  • Roy & Lauren: Not charged (Roy cooperated early but later stopped speaking to investigators; failed polygraph).
  • Civil suit: Amber’s family filed a civil complaint naming public officials (including former Chief Woods), the McKinneys, and others — alleging negligence, obstruction, civil conspiracy, and claiming issues with the county 911 transfer contributed to the response.

Community context, reactions, and broader concerns

  • Floyd County’s small size and local power dynamics fueled public distrust — perception there are two kinds of justice (for the influential vs. everyone else).
  • Family and community activism: Protests, a Justice for Amber Facebook page, a $3,000 billboard campaign, candlelight vigils, press engagement.
  • Historical concerns: Family cites past suspicious local deaths (e.g., Amber’s mother in 1988, other unresolved deaths/missing persons) and a perception of insufficient investigation or local cover‑ups.
  • Legislative push: Family advocates for “Amber’s Law” to increase funding for crime labs to avoid long forensic delays that can stall investigations.

Notable quotes and moments

  • From the 911 transcript (as read in the episode): “Dude, it looks like somebody’s come into the house and fing murdered her. Her fing throat’s slit. There’s blood everywhere.”
  • Chief Woods reportedly told a family contact Amber “aspirated” — a claim at odds with autopsy and the homicide determination.
  • Investigators recovered a blade fragment in Amber’s neck while an intact knife with missing handle was found planted in the couch.

Open questions and unresolved issues

  • Who exactly attacked Amber? The Y‑STR points to the McKinney paternal line but does not definitively identify MK vs. Michael Sr. without additional DNA.
  • Where did the surveillance footage and DVR/hard drive go, and who removed them? Was that removal intentional tampering to obstruct the investigation?
  • What was said during the nearly eight‑minute call from Michael to Chief Woods before 911?
  • What exactly happened during the critical overnight window (who left when, who checked Amber, who cleaned evidence)?
  • Why did certain people (Roy, Lauren) avoid charges despite failing polygraph/being found at the scene?
  • Will pending lab tests (33+ items) produce definitive nuclear DNA or other evidence to strengthen or weaken the prosecution’s case?

What to watch for / action items

  • Trial updates: The trial date was continued to allow additional testing. Crime Junkie plans to livestream the trial on the Crime Junkie Jury YouTube channel; follow their channels for dates and coverage.
  • Legislative developments: Supporters are promoting Amber’s Law to increase crime lab funding in Kentucky.
  • Sources & reading: Crime Junkie’s episode sources and documents are available at crimejunkie.com (episode page), including court filings and key records referenced.

Final takeaway

This case is marked by brutal forensic findings, missing surveillance evidence, a partial but suggestive Y‑STR DNA match to the McKinney line, and strong community suspicion of mishandling or cover‑up. MK was charged with murder and tampering; others face tampering allegations. Many evidentiary gaps remain (because of missing footage, limited DNA, lab delays), so the upcoming trial and additional forensic results will be central to determining accountability and clarifying unanswered questions.