Former Kentucky Prosecutor Arrested and Charged for Allegedly Murdering his Wife

Donald Deskins, a former assistant prosecutor from Pike County, Kentucky has been arrested and charged with murdering his wife in April 2021. Details of the gruesome murder have shocked the local community.

What Happened

According to police reports, Deskins called 911 on April 18, 2021 and reported that his wife, Catherine Deskins was found dead inside their home in Pike County. When police and emergency responders arrived at the scene, they determined Catherine’s death was not due to natural causes but rather suspected foul play.

An autopsy was conducted on Catherine’s body which ruled her cause of death as homicide. The autopsy report noted she had injuries and wounds inflicted by a sharp object. Toxicology reports also showed Catherine had methamphetamines and fentanyl in her system at the time of death. However, the coroner classified the drugs as only contributing to her death and not the primary cause.

The Investigation

Pike County Police launched a homicide investigation into Catherine’s death. They obtained search warrants for the Deskins home and Donald’s electronic devices including his laptop and cellphones. During their examination of evidence, investigators found Donald had tried deleting browsing history and removing files from his laptop related to the night of the murder.

Cellphone location data also placed Donald at the crime scene during the estimated time of Catherine’s murder. With mounting evidence against him, Donald was identified as the prime suspect in Catherine’s homicide case. Last week, a Pike County grand jury reviewed the evidence and testimony presented by prosecutors. They returned an indictment charging Donald Deskins with murder and two counts of tampering with physical evidence.

Community in Shock

The small community of Pike County was left reeling in shock after the charges against Donald were made public. As a former prosecutor, Donald knew the ins and outs of the legal system making the allegations even more disturbing. Neighbors describe the Deskins as a quiet couple who kept to themselves. No one expected domestic violence was occurring behind closed doors.

Catherine’s family says they are still grieving her tragic death.

Donald’s attorney Steve Owens claims his client is innocent until proven guilty. He states the drug evidence and lack of clear motive could lead to reasonable doubt in the case. Meanwhile, Donald remains in Pike County Detention Center on a no bond hold as he awaits trial.

A Troubled History

A deeper dive into Donald’s past reveals a history of instability and erratic behavior according to sources close to the former prosecutor. He had two drunken driving charges in 2005 and 2010 which forced him to resign from his elected office. Donald also struggled with substance abuse issues and bipolar disorder which occasionally led to emotional outbursts.

His volatile temper was an open secret at the Pike County courthouse where colleagues avoided interacting with Donald when he appeared distressed. An anonymous source stated “Donald could flip from charming to enraged in seconds. You never knew what might set him off.” All this raises questions if an undiagnosed mental health condition could have played a role in Catherine’s tragic murder.

More details are expected to surface as the case against Donald Deskins progresses through the court system. However, for now the tight knit community continues to mourn the loss of Catherine while seeking justice for her brutal death.

The trial of Donald Deskins is expected to begin in early 2023. The people of Pike County and advocates against domestic violence will be closely watching the case unfold seeking full accountability for Catherine’s tragic murder.