Three men accused in the shooting death of a Louisville toddler are scheduled to be in court Thursday morning.

William McLemore, Demarkus Tramber and Duwan Mason faced a jury for the first time on Wednesday.

The trio are accused in the 2014 shooting death of 16-month-old Ne’riah Miller.

Prosecutor Ryane Conroy started the day Wednesday by asking the jury to convict the defendants if they found probable cause to believe that the three men participated in the shooting.

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According to WAVE, The three defense attorneys argued that two other men who testified in exchange for a lesser penalty might not have told the truth.

“Michael Dunn lied,” said Bart McMahon, who’s representing Duwan Mason.

In his opening statement, Clark Baird, Tramber’s defense attorney, said something similar: “Dunn and (Trey) Anderson cannot be trusted.”

Representing McLemore, attorney Fred Moore also accused Dunn of lying, saying that “a lie travels halfway across the world before the truth has time to put on its shoes.”

Dunn’s plea deal will require him to testify during the trial. Anderson will, too.

Several witnesses testified Wednesday, including LMPD Officer Jeremy Boehnlein, Metro EMS Maj. Bill Lohden and Medical Examiner Dr. Jeremy Springer were called to give their expertise on the events leading up to and following the shooting.

Miller’s parents — William Miller and Cierra Twyman — also took the stand. Twyman, who was also shot in the attack, tearfully testified that she didn’t know she was hit.

“I didn’t, I just felt paralyzed,” Twyman said. “I didn’t know I was until everyone was in the house and I couldn’t move.”

William Miller, who had said he “could smell the gunpowder,” agreed it was a chaotic scene, adding that he saw that his daughter Ne’riah had passed out but didn’t know that she was shot.

“I see my daughter come out on the stretcher, and I was like, ‘What’s wrong, what’s wrong, has she been hit?'” Miller said. “And (the EMTs) were like, ‘Move, move, move, we got this.'”

“My great grandmother had said she didn’t look like she was breathing,” Twyman said. “Her stomach was swollen and it was purple and blue.”

The EMS witness also said in his testimony that he didn’t realize Ne’riah had been shot until he had taken off her clothes to examine her.

This spring’s first arrest for woodland arson was made Wednesday by the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources.

Sgt. Homer L. Pigman arrested Johnathan Shepherd for allegedly setting a fire off HWY 1210.

Mr. Shepherd was charged with  setting fire on land owned by another and wanton endangerment in the first degree. This is a Class D Felony.

Last fall, the Kentucky Division of Forestry and KDFWR entered into a formal agreement that KDFWR would assist the division in the pursuit of violators of the burning laws contained in KRS 149 with an emphasis on finding, arresting and prosecuting arsonists.  The agreement was highly effective last fall and with this arrest is already bringing positive results this spring.

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“I spoke with several people in the community and on three separate fires Johnathan Shepherd was at or near the fires,” said Sgt. Pigman. “After arresting Mr. Shepherd, he confessed to setting the fire.”

The 271-acre Reffitt Hollow Lane fire off HWY 1210 was just one of 19 fires that the division responded to on Tuesday, February 21. Since February 1, the division has fought 75 fires believed set by arsonists and 73 debris fires. Of the 25 fires in Floyd County, 21 are believed to have been set by arsonists.

The division continues to work with multiple partners through the Wildland Fire and Arson Prevention Task Force to reduce the number of wildland arson incidents statewide and to  successfully prosecute these criminals.

“Stopping wildland arson is a community effort”, said KDF Director Bill Steele. “If you witness or have information about a wildland fire, please contact your local law enforcement agency, the Kentucky State Police, or the Division of Forestry.  You may also call the Target Arson hotline at 1-800-27-ARSON. You may remain anonymous and your tips may help save your neighbors’ homes and lives.”

According to documents from the Kentucky Cabinet for Families and Children, the mother charged in the death of her bed-ridden son with Duchenne muscular dystrophy had been investigated for neglect before.

Joseph “Joey” Bishop died on February 11.  WLWT reports that the teens’ mother, Jamie Bishop, called 911 and said that her son wasn’t breathing. Children’s Hospital said that the teen had large ulcers on his arms, legs, and back and that some of his muscles and bones were exposed. They also said that he had sepsis from abuse or neglect. Investigators said that one of the bedsores was as large as a dinner plate. They told WLWT that the bedsores got infected and they died.

Investigators say that Jamie Bishop failed to provide care and medical treatment for the teen.

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Jamie Bishop, and Joey’s grandparents, Raymond and Sharon Martin, have been charged with felony manslaughter in connection with his death.

WLWT reports that Joey’s family told investigators that they had been too scared to call for help with the bed sores because they didn’t want to get in trouble for neglect.

“This is one of those cases where you just can’t help but shake your head and wonder why, how does this happen?” Kenton County Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders said.

The newly released documents from the Kentucky Cabinet for Families and Children show that in 2015, the state investigated Jamie Bishop for neglect after Joey hadn’t shown up for school since November 2011. WLWT reports that Jamie had told social workers that Joey had severe anxiety about returning to Holmes Middle School after he fell from his wheelchair and was hurt. They also say that documents state that the family took steps to homeschool Joey and take care of him, as well as his 14-year-old sister.

Documents from social workers say that Children’s Hospital told a social worker that Jamie followed through with recommendations and that the hospital had “no concerns.” WLWT reports that the case was closed three months after that.
“We’ll have plenty of time to look into any social services, or schools, or anything, whether they could have, or should have done anything else,” Sanders said. “Right now, our main focus is on the three people who were directly responsible for Joey’s death.”

Investigators in Indiana are asking for people nationwide to help them identify the person who killed two teenage girls.

Liberty German, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13, were found murdered last week. Investigators have released a picture and now an audio clip of a suspect, and they are asking for people to help identify the man. They believe it is also his voice, unless there is a second suspect involved.

Indiana Police need the public’s help to identify this man. This photo was taken on Delphi Historic Trails in Delphi, Indiana. He was walking in the area on Feb. 13, around the time Abigail Williams and Liberty German were walking there. The girls were later found murdered. (Photo: WXIN)

Capt. Dave Bursten with Indiana State Police said the audio came from German’s cell phone, who had the presence of mind to make the recording. Though difficult to understand, police said the voice is saying, “Down the hill.”

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Bursten played the clip multiple times during a news conference on Wednesday.

Liberty German and Abigail Williams were found murdered last week in Delphi, Indiana. They were reported missing Feb. 13, and their bodies were identified Feb. 15. (Photos: WXIN/Indianapolis)

The teen girls were found murdered last week. Several agencies are involved in the investigation, including the FBI.

The update came one week after officials held a formal press conference to announce that two bodies discovered during a missing persons search were those of the two girls. Their deaths are being investigated as homicides.

Delphi is about 70 miles north of Indianapolis, just east of Interstate 65.

Last week, police released a photo of the man they wanted to speak with, and they’re now calling him the main suspect in the girls’ murders. Police said the photo came from Liberty German’s phone.

“We are actively looking for this person. This person is our suspect,” said Sgt. Tony Slocum.

On Monday, Indiana State Police Sgt. Kim Riley said they were widening the search for the man to outside of the county and even outside of the state.

The man was thought to be wearing blue jeans, a blue coat/jacket and a hoodie.

Investigators believe the girls met the suspect in a chance encounter or the person knew they were going to be there. Liberty German’s decision to make a recording provided police with their best information.

The bodies were discovered along the edge of Deer Creek in Delphi which is about a half-mile away from the Monon High Bridge, an abandoned rail bridge over Deer Creek that was the last place the two girls were seen. They were supposed to meet with family members later Monday evening, but when the teens didn’t show up, their families called police.

Officials are asking anyone who may have taken pictures in the area or was just on the trail to contact authorities immediately.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the Delphi Homicide Investigation Tip Line at (844) 459-5786. Information can also be reported by calling the Indiana State Police at (800) 382-7537, or the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department at (765) 564-2413. Information can also be emailed to Abbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com. Information can be reported anonymously.

The Indiana State Police, the FBI, and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department have announced a reward of up to $41,000 in the case, depending upon the value of the information provided.

State Police in Campbellsburg say that the man they say shot two people in Owen County on February 17th has been captured.

The shooting happened around 11 p.m. on Old Columbus Road. Investigators say 23-year-old Derrick Mays Thomas shot James Neal in the hand and Amber Neal in the arm after an argument.

Thomas was considered to be armed and dangerous.

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Troopers say Thomas was found in Gallup, New Mexico with Elizabeth Neal and two little girls just before 1 p.m.

Thomas was arrested on a charge of assault, 1st degree. Neal was detained on unrelated charges.

KSP says Thomas was arrested without incident.

The family of Randy cress told LEX18 that the missing man was found dead Tuesday.  Police in Beattyville have confirmed this, saying he was found in water.

Authorities in Lee County continued their weekend search for the missing man on Monday.

On Sunday, crews searched near a creek on Mill Branch School Road just outside of Beattyville for any evidence of missing 52-year-old Randy Cress. Several agencies were working together in the search including Powell County Search and Rescue, crews out of Elliott County, along with KSP and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Search dogs were also brought in to help the dozens of volunteers.

The sheriff’s office was focusing on the area near the creek because Cress lives nearby and the area is in the vicinity of where he was last seen. Sources tell LEX 18 that Cress’s hat and two prescription pill bottles were found along the creek.

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The Cress family released the following statement, “We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support, prayers, & kind words of encouragement.  We would like to thank the Lee County Search and Rescue, Lee County Sheriff’s Department, Kentucky State Police, neighbors, friends, and others for all their efforts.  Special thanks to Brian Morris, Greg Smallwood, Buddy Smallwood, Justin Wade, Joey Gross, Joe Gross, Shannon McIntosh, Hooky Thomas, Steve Johnson, Burnis Fox, and Waynie Creech.  There are no words that can express how grateful we are to you.  Your kindness, perseverance and selflessness will not be forgotten.  Randy was a very special person.  He was a father, a son, a brother, a uncle, and a friend to many.  He was loved and will truly be missed.”

What police think was a mean-spirited prank has left an Ohio woman facing felony sex charges.

Brittany Fultz, 26, was arrested last week by Sandusky Police after officers viewed cellphone footage of the incident.

Police Detective Andy Bath says Fultz gave a 100-year-old patient a simulated lap dance in December at The Commons of Providence in Sandusky.

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The detective says the video shows the man, who also has dementia, resisting Fultz.

According to police, the woman who taped the incident turned it over to nursing home staff. Fultz is charged with gross sexual imposition, a fourth-degree felony. She was terminated from her job.

Police say the video was never shared online, and officers confiscated the phone.

Investigators have obtained a warrant for a shooting that took place back in December of 2016.

A warrant for first-degree assault was issued for 33-year-old Jeffrey C. Morris of Lexington. Morris is accused of a shooting that took place at Jazzy G’s Bar & Grill on Georgetown Street.

Police discovered a 40-year-old man outside of the restaurant suffering from gunshot wounds.

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Through the course of the investigation, officers determined that Morris shot the victim during a brief altercation.

Anyone with information about Morris’ whereabouts is asked to contact Lexington Police at (859) 258-3600.

Anonymous tips, including photos and videos, can be submitted by texting LEXPD plus the tip to CRIMES (274637). Information can also be sent anonymously through Bluegrass Crime Stoppers at (859) 253-2020 or www.bluegrasscrimestoppers.com.

State Police in Campbellsburg are looking for the man they say shot two people in Owen County on February 17th.

The shooting happened around 11 p.m. on Old Columbus Road. Investigators say 23-year-old Derrick Mays Thomas shot James Neal in the hand and Amber Neal in the arm after an argument.

Thomas is considered to be armed and dangerous.

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Police say he left the residence in a gray 2003 Mitsubishi Galant with Kentucky license plate number 124-VET. Thomas could also be traveling in a blue/silver 2003 two-door Hyundai Accent with Kentucky registration plate 651-LFE.

Thomas is described as a 23-year-old white male, standing 5-feet-6-inches tall, with blue eyes.

State Police say he may be in the company of his 22-year-old girlfriend Elizabeth Neal and their two children.