A Lexington man pleaded guilty to charges in connection to the murder of a University of Kentucky Chef.
Timothy Ballard pleaded guilty to kidnapping and tampering with physical evidence in the murder of Alex Johnson. Johnson disappeared Dec. 20 after his girlfriend said he ended a phone call with her by saying he needed to answer the door at his home.
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After missing for several months, his body was found in 4 feet of water inside a 55-gallon blue barrel near the shore of the Kentucky River,
He died from blunt-force trauma injuries to the head.
Timothy Ballard has been charged with kidnapping and evidence tampering, while alleged co-conspirator Robert Taylor was charged with murder.
Ballard admitted to the judge that he drove the vehicle while Taylor “detained the deceased’s body” and also says he helped put the body in the back of the truck.
As part of Ballard’s plea, he must agree to testify against Taylor. The Commonwealth asked the judge for 20 years for the kidnapping charge and 5 years for the tampering charge.
Ballard must also pay restitution.
Taylor is set to face a jury in the summer of 2016.
