By JUSTIN HOWARD
MIDDLESBORO, Ky. — Members of the Middlesboro Police Department, headed by veteran Detective Barry Cowan, executed two search warrants Thursday evening at West End Homes, resulting in charges against two people accused of trafficking prescription hydrocodone.
At approximately 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, the Middlesboro Police Department, led by Detective Barry Cowan, served warrants at apartments 558 and 554.
The Source is the first news outlet to report on this.
Sherri Davis was charged with two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree involving hydrocodone.
In a separate case, Danny Simpson was charged with two counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance involving hydrocodone. During the execution of the warrant, he was also charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of a prescription drug in an improper container.
Simpson is being transferred to the Bell County Detention Center.
Davis was issued a citation rather than being lodged at the detention center because of medical conditions police said would make incarceration there unsafe for her.
Under Kentucky law, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance can constitute a Class C felony, depending on the substance, quantity and circumstances involved, and could potentially carry five to 10 years in prison.
Cowan said police intend to put a stop to prescription drug trafficking in West End Homes and warned that Thursday’s arrests may not be the last.
“The prescription drug trafficking in West End Homes is going to stop. Be looking for more arrests to come out of this area.”
The charges are allegations, and Davis and Simpson are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
HUMAN REMAINS FOUND UNDER HOUSE IN EVARTS
By JUSTIN HOWARD
EVARTS, Ky. — A soft spot beneath a Harlan County home has led to a discovery that has left investigators searching for answers — and potentially trying to identify a person who may have been dead for years.
Human remains were discovered beneath the home at 9921 Highway 38 in the River Ridge area of Evarts, after the homeowner reportedly noticed something unusual beneath the house and decided to investigate.
According to information provided to The Source News by a county official working closely with the investigation, the homeowner told authorities he had not entered the crawl space beneath the home in approximately 10 years.
When he went underneath the house, he discovered what appeared to be human remains.
Now, investigators are trying to determine one of the most basic questions surrounding the case:
Who was beneath the home?
The remains were transported to the Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort, where forensic specialists are working to establish an identity and gather additional information.
The condition of the remains has made the investigation particularly challenging. Officials at the scene were unable to definitively determine the victim’s sex or cause of death.
However, a member of the investigative team told The Source News that the remains appear to be male. That assessment remains subject to forensic confirmation.
The coroner’s office is also seeking dental records that could potentially help identify the individual.
According to our source, DNA testing could provide another avenue for identification, with investigators potentially able to obtain genetic material from surviving bone or the interior of a tooth. This testing could be used alongside dental records and other forensic evidence as investigators work to establish the identity of the remains.
The remains will remain in Frankfort and will not be returned to Harlan County until the individual has been identified.
The process could take time. Officials expect the medical examiner’s examination and identification process could take several weeks.
Meanwhile, investigators are looking backward.
A member of the investigative team told The Source News that Kentucky State Police are examining missing-person cases dating back to approximately 2023 as they attempt to determine whether the remains could be connected to someone who disappeared from the region.
No specific missing person has been publicly identified as a possible match.
The apparent age of the remains could make that search particularly important. The Harlan County Coroner’s Office has previously emphasized that investigators believe the remains had been there “years, not days.”
That raises another unanswered question: How could human remains have remained beneath a home for so long without being discovered?
At this point, investigators have not provided a definitive explanation.
Authorities have not announced a cause or manner of death, and investigators have not confirmed or denied whether any foul play was involved.
Kentucky State Police are leading the investigation, with assistance from the Harlan County Sheriff’s Office and Evarts Fire Department.
For now, the answers are in Frankfort.
Forensic specialists will determine what can be learned from the remains, while investigators continue searching missing-person records and gathering information about the property and the circumstances surrounding the discovery.
A homeowner investigating an unexplained soft spot beneath his house unexpectedly opened the door to a mystery that could reach back years.
Who was the person beneath the home? Why were the remains there? How long had they been there? And what happened to them?
Those are the questions investigators are now working to answer.
The Source News will continue following this developing investigation as authorities release additional information.
#ColdCase #missing #harlankentucky
#BreakingNews
ALLEGATIONS SPANNING YEARS: BELL COUNTY MAN ARRESTED ON RAPE, SODOMY & SEXUAL ABUSE CHARGES AGAINST A RELATIVE 12-YEARS OLD OR YOUNGER
By Justin Howard | The Source News
BELL COUNTY, Ky. — A Bell County investigation that began with a domestic violence call has escalated into a major criminal case, with a 56-year-old Polly Hollow man now facing five felony charges involving alleged sexual offenses against minors who investigators say are members of his family.
John Melton was arrested after Bell County deputies, working alongside the U.S. Marshals Service Central Kentucky Fugitive Task Force, arrived at his Polly Hollow residence to serve an arrest warrant. Melton‘s arrest is one of what would have to be a record year in Bell County of sex offense charges.
According to investigators, Melton did not immediately come out of the residence, taking a substantial amount of time before surrendering to law enforcement.
During the arrest, officers noticed a cell phone case but could not locate the phone itself. Investigators obtained the telephone number associated with Melton and used audio cues from the device to track it down.
The phone was ultimately located in the woods behind the residence, near a back door.
Investigation began with domestic violence call
The case reportedly began during the week of Aug. 10, when Bell County deputies led by Detective Hunter Luttrell responded to a domestic violence complaint in the Polly Hollow community.
As Luttrell investigated the complaint, he contacted the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services to assist with interviews involving family members.
According to investigators, those interviews led to allegations that Melton had engaged in sexual acts involving minors who were identified as his relatives.
Investigators said two recent instances brought alleged prior conduct to light, with allegations reaching back as far as 2014.
The allegations prompted investigators to expand the investigation, ultimately leading to the issuance and execution of arrest and search warrants.
Five felony charges
Melton was arrested and lodged in the Bell County Detention Center, where officials said he is currently being held without bond.
According to detention center officials, Melton is expected to appear before Judge Robert Yoakam next week for an arraignment.
Melton faces five felony charges:
* First-degree rape — child under 12
* First-degree sodomy — child under 12
* First-degree sexual abuse — child under 12
* First-degree incest — child under 12
* Tampering with physical evidence
The incest charge reflects the allegation that Melton is related to the alleged victim.
Potential penalties under Kentucky law
If convicted, Melton could face substantial prison sentences under Kentucky law.
First-degree rape involving a victim younger than 12 is a Class A felony. First-degree sodomy involving a victim younger than 12 is also a Class A felony.
First-degree incest involving a person younger than 12 is likewise classified as a Class A felony.
Under Kentucky’s sentencing law, a Class A felony carries an authorized sentence of 20 to 50 years in prison, or life imprisonment, unless another provision of law applies.
First-degree sexual abuse involving a victim younger than 12 is a Class C felony, carrying an authorized prison range of 5 to 10 years.
Tampering with physical evidence is a Class D felony, carrying an authorized prison range of 1 to 5 years.
Kentucky law also provides for a five-year period of post-incarceration supervision for qualifying felony offenses, including certain offenses under Kentucky’s sexual-offense and incest statutes.
These are statutory sentencing ranges and do not mean Melton would automatically receive the maximum sentence if convicted. Any eventual sentence would depend upon the specific convictions, applicable sentencing provisions, criminal history, plea negotiations and circumstances established in court.
The allegations involve conduct investigators say may have occurred over a period spanning more than a decade.
The charges are allegations, not convictions. Melton is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The case will now move into the judicial process, beginning with the expected arraignment before Judge Robert Yoakam next week and likely being brought before a grand jury by Commonwealth Attorney, Mike Taylor, which would lead to an indictment and further proceedings in the Bell County Circuit Court.
By The Source News
BELL COUNTY —Bell County is seeing a notable increase in publicly documented sex-crime cases in 2026, with many of the allegations involving children.
A preliminary review by The Source News identified at least 11 defendants facing new sex-related charges through Aug. 22, 2026, compared with at least four during the same period in 2025. That represents a 175% increase in publicly documented defendants.
The cases include allegations of rape, sodomy, sexual abuse, incest, human trafficking and attempts to arrange sexual encounters with people believed to be minors.
Among the recent cases is John Melton, 56, of Middlesboro, who faces multiple felony sex charges involving children under 12. Darrell Carnahan, 69, of Loyall, faces allegations involving sexual assault, human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. Other cases involve alleged online attempts to arrange sexual encounters with people believed to be minors.
The recent cases have generated concern among parents and residents throughout the county. One Bell County mother, commenting on Facebook, said the recent reports have caused “alarm bells and panic” among many county residents.
The concern is supported by additional data. During the first six months of 2025, Bell County’s child-abuse team reviewed 39 alleged sexual-abuse cases and three alleged child-sex-trafficking cases. Those figures represent cases reviewed through the child-abuse system and should not be interpreted as arrests, indictments or convictions.
Statewide, Kentucky recorded 4,521 known sex offenses in 2025, compared with 4,078 in 2024, an increase of approximately 11%.
The 2026 Bell County figures, however, are not yet an official countywide crime statistic. The 175% figure reflects the difference between the number of publicly documented defendants identified in the preliminary review — 11 compared with four — and does not establish that the actual number of crimes or victims increased by the same percentage. Some defendants face multiple charges, and some allegations involve conduct that allegedly occurred years before charges were filed.
That distinction makes official court data particularly important.
The Source News is now seeking information from Bell County Commonwealth’s Attorney Mike Taylor regarding the number of sex-crime cases currently pending, the number of defendants awaiting indictment, the status of cases involving defendants being held on substantial bonds and whether any cases are approaching Kentucky’s 60-day detention requirement.
The Bell Circuit Court Clerk’s Office will also be contacted for official figures concerning sex-related cases filed in 2026, indictments, pending cases and case dispositions. Those records will provide a more complete basis for comparing 2026 with previous years.
The investigation also comes as questions grow about what happens after an arrest. The number of arrests alone does not show how many cases ultimately result in indictments, guilty pleas, trials, dismissals or other outcomes.
For that reason, this report is intended as a brief preliminary look at the issue, not a final statistical analysis.
What can be established at this stage is that at least 11 defendants have been publicly documented facing new sex-related charges in Bell County through Aug. 22, compared with at least four during the comparable period of 2025.
Whether that increase reflects more offenses, increased reporting, stronger enforcement, changes in investigative activity or a combination of factors remains to be determined.
The Source will be contacting the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office, Circuit Court Clerk’s office, etc. to obtain the official numbers. We are also going to ask Mr. Taylor if sources who have reported that any case involving the “606PredHunters”.
Several sources have reported that the cases will not be brought before a grand jury. We have not independently verified this information.
All defendants named in this report are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
BELL COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES VOTED FOR TAX INCENTIVES FOR DATA CENTERS AS COUNTY RESIDENTS REJECT DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT
By Justin Howard | The Source News
PINEVILLE, Ky. — As a large majority of Bell County residents voice opposition to a proposed data center being built in the county, the voting records of the two state legislators representing Bell County are drawing renewed attention.
State Rep. Adam Bowling, R-Middlesboro, and State Sen. Scott Madon, R-Pineville, both voted in favor of legislation expanding Kentucky’s tax incentives for qualifying data-center projects.
Their votes stand in stark contrast to the position being expressed by a large majority of residents who have spoken publicly about the proposed development in Bell County.
The legislation, House Bill 775, passed the Kentucky House by a vote of 61-23, while the Senate approved the measure 32-5. The final vote roll identifies both Bowling and Madon among those voting yes.
HB 775 expanded Kentucky’s existing sales and use tax incentive program for qualifying data centers, allowing eligible projects to receive significant tax benefits if they meet specified investment and other requirements.
Bowling and Madon did not vote specifically to approve the proposed Bell County data center. Their votes were on statewide legislation establishing and expanding incentives available to qualifying data-center projects.
Nevertheless, those votes have become particularly relevant as Bell County residents confront the possibility of a large-scale data center being constructed in their own community.
The local opposition is not simply a demand for additional information.
A large majority of residents who have spoken publicly about the proposed project have made their position clear: They do not want a data center built in Bell County.
That opposition was on full display during a recent Bell County Fiscal Court meeting, where a standing-room-only crowd filled the courtroom for nearly two hours of public testimony.
Residents raised concerns about water consumption, electrical demand, environmental impacts, flooding, wildlife, property values, traffic, infrastructure, public health and the long-term effects of the development on the community.
But beyond those individual concerns was a broader message from residents: They do not want the proposed data center in Bell County.
The Fiscal Court responded by advancing a two-year moratorium on the construction, development and operation of data centers in Bell County.
The ordinance has since passed its second reading, moving the county further toward formally imposing the two-year moratorium.
The moratorium is intended to provide county officials with time to study the potential impacts of data centers and determine whether additional local regulations are necessary.
For many residents, however, the moratorium is not being viewed as an invitation to simply wait two years and reconsider the same project. Instead, it represents an opportunity for the county to protect the community from a development that many residents have already said they oppose.
Ashley Blake told the Fiscal Court:
“The people of Bell County deserve answers before decisions are made, not after.”
Healthcare professional Tiffany Trees told officials:
“This isn’t about standing in the way of progress. It’s about making sure progress never comes at the expense of the health of our families or the future of our community.”
Magistrate Donovan Clemons said he intended to stand with the majority of his constituents.
“I am elected by the majority of the people, and I will stand with the views of the majority of the people on this.”
Property owner Dale Murray, meanwhile, has defended the proposed development and emphasized what he believes could be significant economic benefits.
Murray has said the project could generate more than 1,000 construction jobs and ultimately provide more than 100 permanent positions. He has also argued that the property is well suited for the project because of its history as an industrial site and its proximity to available electrical capacity.
Murray said developers have not requested county funding, tax incentives or public infrastructure improvements.
Those potential economic benefits remain part of the debate, but they have not persuaded a large number of residents who have publicly opposed the project.
The Source News has contacted both Rep. Adam Bowling and Sen. Scott Madon regarding their votes in favor of the legislation and has requested comment on the state’s data-center tax incentives, the proposed Bell County project and the concerns being raised by their constituents.
As of 8:45 AM on Friday, August 21, we have yet to hear back from either legislator, and will update the article with their comments.
That leaves Bell County facing a striking contrast.
At the state level, the representatives elected by Bell County voters supported legislation expanding tax incentives intended to encourage qualifying data-center development.
At the local level, Bell County residents have overwhelmingly voiced opposition to having a data center built in their community, while the Fiscal Court has responded by advancing a two-year moratorium.
The issue therefore raises a fundamental question about representation: When state lawmakers vote to expand financial incentives for an industry, but a large majority of their constituents oppose that industry’s development in their own county, whose position should carry the greatest weight?
The votes of Bowling and Madon do not establish that either lawmaker supports the specific Bell County project. However, their votes do establish that both supported expanding Kentucky’s tax-incentive structure for qualifying data centers.
As Bell County moves forward with its moratorium, those votes are likely to remain part of the public discussion surrounding the county’s future.
For residents who have already made their position clear, the issue is not whether Bell County should simply study whether it wants a data center.
They have already answered that question. They do not want one built in Bell County.
The Source News will continue following the Bell County moratorium, any new developments in proposed data center and the responses of Bell County’s representatives in Frankfort.
By JUSTIN HOWARD
BELL COUNTY, Ky. — Johnny Ray Gambrel, 52, of Pineville, is facing multiple criminal charges after authorities allege he threatened a family, resisted arrest, and engaged in a violent confrontation with law enforcement Sunday afternoon that ended with a Bell County detective being attacked by a dog.
According to the Bell County Sheriff’s Department, Bell County Dispatch received reports on Sunday, Aug. 2, that Gambrel was shouting profanities and throwing objects at passing vehicles near a park on Greencamp Road. Investigators allege Gambrel, who was reportedly several miles from his residence, also threatened a nearby family on Wagoner Lane, including children, by stating he intended to kill them.
Detective Hunter Luttrell said deputies were already familiar with Gambrel because of previous encounters that, he said, had escalated because of Gambrel’s actions.
When Detective Luttrell and Pineville Police Officer Samson Churchwell arrived, authorities said they found Gambrel standing in the roadway in what they described as a combative stance. Officers ordered him to stop, but investigators allege Gambrel instead threatened both officers, stating, “I’ve got a gun too…and I will kill you both.” Authorities also allege he repeatedly encouraged his dog to attack the officers.
According to the sheriff’s department, officers deployed a Taser after Gambrel allegedly refused repeated commands and continued resisting. As officers attempted to place him in handcuffs, the dog reportedly attacked Detective Luttrell, biting both of his ankles and refusing to release its grip.
Authorities said officers discharged their firearms to stop the attack. The dog was struck multiple times and died from its injuries after officials determined it continued to pose an immediate threat.
Investigators said Gambrel continued resisting arrest even after being handcuffed. Deputies ultimately deployed OC spray before successfully securing him inside a patrol vehicle.
Gambrel was transported to the Bell County Detention Center and charged with:
* Terroristic Threatening, Third Degree (Class A misdemeanor – punishable by up to 12 months in jail)
* Menacing (Class B misdemeanor – punishable by up to 90 days in jail)
* Public Intoxication (Controlled Substance, Excluding Alcohol) (Class B misdemeanor – punishable by up to 90 days in jail)
* Fleeing or Evading Police, First Degree (On Foot) (Class C felony – punishable by 5 to 10 years in prison)
* Resisting Arrest (Class A misdemeanor – punishable by up to 12 months in jail)
* Disorderly Conduct, First Degree (Class A misdemeanor – punishable by up to 12 months in jail)
* Criminal Trespass, First Degree (Class A misdemeanor – punishable by up to 12 months in jail)
* Assault, Third Degree (Police Officer) (Class D felony – punishable by 1 to 5 years in prison)
According to jail staff, Gambrel remains incarcerated at the Bell County Detention Center on a $10,000 cash bond. According to jail staff, his next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 6, for a preliminary hearing.
Detective Luttrell was transported to Pineville Community Health Center for treatment of injuries sustained during the dog attack and has since been released.
The sheriff’s department also stated that deputies have previously encountered Gambrel while he was allegedly armed with a machete and a hammer. Detective Luttrell further noted that residents in the Arjay community had previously expressed concerns after Gambrel allegedly claimed to possess a firearm.
Authorities said this was the third reported incident involving Gambrel’s dog. During a previous response, a Bell County EMS employee was reportedly bitten by the animal.
Court records indicate Gambrel has an extensive arrest history spanning multiple years. However, prior arrests do not constitute proof of guilt in any current or past criminal matter.
A former inmate who stated he was housed with Gambrel at the Bell County Detention Center described the defendant’s behavior based on his personal observations.
“This guy was beyond unhinged. In my opinion, he suffers from a couple of mental illnesses. He would be happy one minute and at the door screaming obscenities and saying crazy things the next minute.”
The former inmate’s remarks reflect his personal opinion and have not been independently verified.
The allegations against Gambrel are accusations only. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
By JUSTIN HOWARD
PUBLIC NOTICE – ACTIVE SHOOTER RESPONSE TRAINING
The Kentucky State Police will conduct an Active Shooter Response Training Exercise at Middlesboro ARH Hospital on Tuesday, August 4, from 10:00 a.m. until approximately 12:00 p.m.
The exercise will be held in the hospital’s basement and is intended to enhance emergency preparedness by providing hands-on training for hospital personnel and law enforcement officers in responding to a critical incident.
Hospital staff have been notified in advance, and the Middlesboro Police Department has been advised of the exercise. Members of the public may observe an increased law enforcement presence, including multiple Kentucky State Police vehicles on hospital property during the training.
For everyone’s safety, signs will be posted directing the public to avoid the designated training area. This is only a planned training exercise. There is no active threat to the hospital or the community.
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DEVELOPING: ALLEGED ATTEMPT TO CONTINUE DATA CENTER SITE WORK RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT BELL COUNTY MORATORIUM
PINEVILLE, Ky. — An alleged attempt to continue work at the site of the proposed Bell County AI data center is raising new questions about compliance with Bell County’s recently adopted two-year moratorium on data center development.
According to information provided to The Source News, at approximately 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 31, 2026, a contractor from Pikeville, Kentucky, arrived near the proposed data center property off Highway 92 and asked Emily Diaz and members of the Diaz family, whose property adjoins the Murray Industries site, for directions to the proposed development.
Emily Diaz stated that her family informed the contractor that the Bell County Fiscal Court had adopted a two-year moratorium prohibiting the construction, development, and operation of data centers and all data storage facilities within the county’s jurisdiction.
The ordinance, approved by the Bell County Fiscal Court on July 2, 2026, provides in Section I:
“A moratorium is hereby imposed on the construction, development, and operation of data centers of any size and all data storage facilities within the jurisdiction of the Bell County Fiscal Court for a period of two (2) years effective from the date of this ordinance.”
The ordinance further states that the purpose of the moratorium is to allow Bell County officials, consultants, and stakeholders time to fully evaluate the environmental impacts, utility capacity, infrastructure demands, energy consumption, land use, economic benefits, and long-term planning associated with data center development before additional work proceeds.
According to Diaz, the contractor stated he had been hired by a third party to bring equipment to the property and continue excavation, burning, and land-clearing activities.
Diaz further alleged the contractor stated the individual who hired him was acting on behalf of Ben DeVary, one of the developers involved in the proposed Bell County data center project alongside Murray Industries. DeVary attended the Bell County Fiscal Court meeting during which the moratorium was adopted.
After learning that the moratorium was in effect, the contractor reportedly stated that he did not intend to proceed with any work until he received official documentation from Bell County. According to Diaz, the contractor requested a stop-work order or other official confirmation from the county before taking any further action.
Based on the information currently available, there is no allegation that the contractor knowingly attempted to violate the moratorium. Rather, the reported statements indicate he sought guidance from county officials after becoming aware of the ordinance and declined to proceed without official authorization.
Before the moratorium was enacted, Murray Industries had begun clearing portions of approximately 1,185 acres off Highway 92 in Bell County for the proposed AI data center project. The company also owns approximately 500 acres in the Kay Jay community of Knox County, adjacent to the Bell County property.
If the reported allegations are substantiated, they could raise questions about whether there was an attempted effort to continue work through a third-party contractor despite the county’s moratorium. However, no determination has been made by Bell County officials that the moratorium has been violated, and any such finding would ultimately depend upon an official investigation and review of the facts.
The Source News has not independently verified the allegations and is actively seeking comment from Ben DeVary, Murray Industries, the Pikeville contractor, Bell County officials, and other individuals with direct knowledge of the reported incident.
Citizens Encouraged to Contact County Officials
Residents with questions or concerns regarding the reported incident are encouraged to respectfully contact Bell County officials and request that the matter be reviewed to determine whether any investigation or enforcement action is warranted under the county’s two-year data center moratorium.
Bell County officials may be reached at:
* Judge/Executive Albert “Albey” Brock — 606-337-3076
* Magistrate Joe Hammontree — 606-524-2153
* Magistrate Donny Lefevers — 606-269-5499
* Magistrate Glenn Webb — 606-269-6999
* Magistrate Eddie Saylor — 606-337-2824
* Magistrate Lonnie Maiden — 606-269-9282
Citizens may wish to ask whether the reported incident has been reviewed by county officials, whether a formal investigation will be conducted, whether a stop-work order or other enforcement action is appropriate, and what steps Bell County intends to take to ensure the moratorium is enforced consistently.
This remains an active and developing story. The Source News is continuing to interview witnesses, obtain additional documentation, and seek official responses from all parties involved. Additional updates will be published as new information is independently verified.
Contact The Source News
JUSTIN@thesourcenewsky.COM