WILLIAMSON, W.Va. –Jury selection is underway in Mingo County for Timothy Kennedy, the man accused of killing West Virginia State Police Sgt. Cory Maynard.
Kennedy, of Matewan, is facing a five-count indictment which includes the murder of Maynard in 2023. Maynard had responded to a shooting incident in the Beech Creek area when Kennedy allegedly ambushed him.
Mingo County Judge Joshua Butcher called in a jury pool of 55 people to begin selection Monday. The case had generated enough publicity that 50 of the 55 people had heard about the killing.
Last week, Butcher delayed a decision for a change of venue until after he looked at prospective jurors. The defense had requested for the venue to be changed to McDowell County after a survey showed that out of 300 potential jurors, 75% of them had heard about the trooper’s murder and 86% believed that Kennedy was guilty.
The court will continue individually questioning the first group of prospective jurors, as well as a second group of 60, on Tuesday.