Four charged in Lee County murder investigation

Four people have been charged so far in connection with a murder investigation in Lee County.

According to arrest citations obtained by WKYT, at least four people have been booked into the Three Forks Regional Jail on murder charges.

Kentucky State Police found the body of Billy Roark, 28, along Hell Creek Road on Friday. On Saturday, troopers say their investigation lead to them a second body, also on Hell Creek Road. That body has been identified as James Brown, 36.

An arrest citation for Anthony Taylor, who was arrested Saturday, reports that on Friday, Wesley Johnson had called 9-1-1 saying his friend, Billy Roark, had been shot on Hell Creek Road. Johnson told investigators that Taylor, along with four others, made him and Roark get out of their vehicle on Hell Creek Road. Johnson claimed he and Roark were threatened at gunpoint.

The arrest citation for Taylor goes on to say that Taylor and another man, Kevin Kendall, assaulted Roark by hitting him with their pistols. The three then walked off the roadway and ordered Roark to his knees. Kentucky State Police say that is when Roark was shot.

Investigators say Taylor admitted to being at Hell Creek Road with Roark and the rest of the group, but says he did not shoot Roark. He claimed a man with them named Jay Shoemaker shot Roark. Another citation says Taylor blamed Kendall for the shooting.

During their investigation, troopers found blood on Taylor's truck and in it. Taylor said his truck was at the scene.

Kendall has also been booked into the jail on a murder charge. According to an arrest citation, Kendall told investigators that Taylor killed Roark. Kendall also lead troopers to Brown's body on Saturday.

A woman named Kasandra White is also in the Three Forks Regional Jail. In an arrest citation for her, White was at the scene when Roark was shot and killed. On Saturday, when investigators say Kendall led them to Brown's body, Kendall also told them that a "small blonde shot Brown. Anthony Taylor finished him off." Kendall says he witnessed the shooting death of Brown.

White was arrested early on Sunday by Jackson Police. Police say White told them that she deserved to go to jail because she had killed someone in Lee County. During two different interviews, White admitted to killing someone. She told investigators that she called the man a pervert. White is charged with murder and complicity to murder.

The man who initially called 9-1-1 for Roark's death has also been booked into the jail on a murder charge. Wesley Johnson claims he had nothing to do with Roark's death. According to an arrest citation for him, Taylor and Kendall told investigators Johnson had a gun during the shooting and that Roark and Johnson had an argument before Roark was killed. While Kendall and Taylor blame each other for the actual shooting, they both say Johnson took part in the crime. Investigators say Johnson did not mention that he was present when Brown was killed.

Kendall told troopers that Brown was ordered into Johnson's vehicle at gunpoint and brought Brown to Hell Creek Road.

Taylor, Kendall, and Johnson declined our requests for interviews. Their bonds were set at $1 million on Monday. All four will be arraigned Tuesday morning at 9am.

"'Nubbin' that's what I called him," Bridget Barnes, Billy Roark's aunt, said. She made her way down to eastern Kentucky as soon as she heard the news.

"We're never going to get over it. It's never going to be the same without nubbin being here."

Her nephew, police say, was murdered Friday. Barnes says she needed to be in town to support her sister in law, Billy's mom.

"She [Billy's mom] went to see his body. It's nothing I would want to do," Barnes said. "A mother ain't supposed to bury their children. They're supposed to bury us."

Family says a lot of rumors have been going around Beattyville. They only know one of the men that's been arrested. They say that's Wesley Johnson.

Police say Johnson called 9-1-1 saying his friend, Billy, had been shot. KSP first put Anthony Taylor behind bars.

Saturday police found James Brown dead in the same area off Hell Creek Road. They say Kevin Kendall led them to that body.

Kendall is behind bars, now accompanied by Johnson and Kasandra White.

Friends of Roark say he'd been hanging around the wrong crowd.

"He tried to turn his life around but he was always around the wrong people, you know, some of those that were involved," Brittany McQueen, a friend, said. She's hoping for justice.

"He [Billy Roark] had a good heart and no matter what he did or what mistakes he did he was a good person. You know? Nobody deserves what he got."

"They should be took out and done the same way they done him," Barnes said.

The four are held in Three Forks Jail without bond.