An open 911 line, a teenager’s account and a disputed ride to the property have become central to the Pulaski County case.

SOMERSET, Ky. — The only adult charged in connection with the shooting death of 70-year-old Sherri Mitko is now accused of complicity to murder, robbery and burglary after a Kentucky judge amended his charges during a preliminary hearing, the latest development in an investigation that has led to cases against five people.

McCoy Chaney, 20, of Somerset, was initially arrested Aug. 17 on charges of murder, first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary. At a Sept. 2 preliminary hearing, those counts were changed to complicity to murder, complicity to first-degree robbery and complicity to first-degree burglary. Chaney has denied knowing that the teenagers he drove to Mitko’s rural Pulaski County home intended to rob her or commit violence. He earlier entered a not guilty plea. Four teenage boys also have been charged in connection with Mitko’s death, though authorities have not publicly identified them because they are juveniles.

The investigation began after midnight Aug. 12 when emergency dispatchers received a 911 call from Mitko’s home on Lower Line Creek Road. According to a criminal complaint described by local news outlets, two male voices could be heard while the line remained open. One of the speakers was recorded saying they should not have killed her and should leave. Deputies responding for a welfare check entered the residence and found Mitko dead. Authorities said she had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators also reported finding two cellphones inside the home, evidence that became part of the inquiry into who had been present that night.

A criminal complaint provided authorities with another account of the events. Investigators said a 15-year-old boy admitted entering Mitko’s home with a 17-year-old boy as part of a robbery. According to the complaint, the younger teenager told investigators that the 17-year-old shot Mitko. The 15-year-old also said about $240 and alcohol were taken from the residence. Those statements are allegations contained in the investigation and have not been established at trial. The juvenile cases have largely remained outside public view, limiting the amount of information available about the evidence against each teenager.

Chaney has offered a different description of his own role. In a jail interview with WKYT, he said he believed he was taking the teenagers to a friend’s house so they could retrieve belongings they had left there. He said he remained outside and became alarmed after hearing gunshots. Chaney also said the teenagers threatened him and claimed he feared what might happen if he left or reported them. His statements represent his account of the night and do not resolve what investigators believe he knew before reaching the property.

Chaney also described his connection with some of the teenagers as something that had resumed after a chance encounter at a Walmart. He said he had known them previously, had spent time away from them and later crossed paths with them at the store. That explanation drew attention because Chaney portrayed the renewed contact as incidental, while investigators were examining how the group came together before arriving at Mitko’s home. Authorities have not publicly alleged that the Walmart encounter itself was connected to planning the crime.

Pulaski County Sheriff Bobby Jones has said investigators believe Mitko’s home was specifically targeted and that at least one person connected to the case had been there before. That statement differs from the suggestion that the trip was merely an unplanned stop at a friend’s home. Jones said after the first arrests that authorities considered the killing an isolated incident and did not believe the broader public faced an ongoing threat. The sheriff’s office has not publicly explained why the house was targeted or fully described the prior connection between Mitko and those accused.

The number of defendants grew as detectives continued following leads. Two teenage boys were charged with murder on Aug. 16. Chaney was arrested the next day. A third juvenile was charged Aug. 19 with complicity to commit murder. On Aug. 28, the sheriff’s office announced that another teenage boy had been charged with murder, bringing the total number of people charged to five. Officials said that fourth juvenile had already been detained on an unrelated matter during the early stages of the homicide investigation. The separate charging dates show that detectives continued developing the case for more than two weeks after Mitko was found.

The charging documents and public statements do not establish that all five defendants played the same role. One juvenile’s account attributed the shooting to another teenager, while investigators have accused others of participating in or being legally complicit in the broader crime. Chaney’s amended charges likewise focus on alleged complicity rather than identifying him as the person who fired the shots. Under Kentucky criminal procedure, the charges describe accusations that prosecutors must prove in court. No defendant has been convicted in connection with Mitko’s death.

Mitko’s death also prompted remembrances from people who knew her through schools and her community. Her family said she previously worked as a teacher in Columbus, Ohio, and later served as a substitute teacher after moving to Kentucky. Friends and relatives described her as someone who regularly helped other people through small acts of generosity. Her obituary said she enjoyed making items for friends and relatives, including wedding dresses and baked goods, and was known for offering encouragement. Laurel County Public Schools also remembered her work as a substitute teacher.

Mitko’s son, Chris Mitko, told WKYT that his mother’s life was defined less by one dramatic accomplishment than by many modest acts of service. He also indicated that the family had ideas about how at least one accused teenager knew his mother but did not want to interfere with the court process. Authorities have similarly stopped short of releasing a full explanation of the relationship. That unanswered question remains important because investigators have said the home was targeted rather than selected at random.

Currently, Chaney is being held on a $1.5 million bond after his arrest, according to authorities. His earlier court appearance resulted in a not guilty plea, and the Sept. 2 hearing changed the form of the charges against him without resolving the underlying allegations. Public reports have not disclosed final dispositions in the juvenile cases. The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office has continued to describe the homicide investigation as ongoing, leaving questions about the defendants’ alleged planning, the reason Mitko’s house was selected and the evidence tying each person to the crime for the courts to address.

Author note: Last updated September 28, 2026.