Two local residents charged in last month’s murder of an Alpha, Kentucky man have been indicted by the Clinton County Grand Jury for murder or complicity to murder, first degree robbery or complicity to robbery and tampering with physical evidence.

During a special session of the grand jury on Monday, November 4, Michael E. Thompson, 52, and Andrea M. Byler, 21, were named in the true bills.

The grand jury alleges that on or about October 23, Thompson and Byler, “acting alone or in complicity with each other, committed the offense of murder, a class A felony, when said defendant or defendants stabbed Jimmy D. Sidwell, Jr. multiple times” and in so doing caused his death.

The pair was also charged with first degree robbery, when acting alone or in complicity with each other, “when said defendant or defendants were armed with a deadly weapon and by using a dangerous weapon upon (Sidwell) in the course of committing a robbery.” First degree robbery is a class B felony.

Thompson was also charged with one count of tampering with physical evidence, a class D felony, “when he disposed, destroyed, concealed, removed, the body of Jimmy Sidwell Jr., deceased, and placed said body underneath a mobile home which he believed is about to be produced or used in the official proceeding with the intent to impair the verity or availability in the official proceeding.”

Byler was named in two counts of tampering with physical evidence by concealing the body and “cleaned the vehicle used to transport the body…with bleach and other cleaning agents.”

Kentucky State Police Detective Ricky Brooks, the lead investigator in the case, presented testimony at the grand jury proceeding last week.

The body of the victim was discovered underneath an unoccupied mobile home early Saturday afternoon, October 26, on Cody Lane behind Lee’s Famous Recipe in south Albany. The following day, Sunday, October 27, both suspects in the case were arrested and charged in relation to the crime.

Other true bills returned

While convening last Monday, the grand jury also returned a few other multi-county indictments, including:

— The alleged offenses of fourth degree assault (two counts-class A misdemeanor), second degree burglary (class C felony) and criminal abuse second degree (class D felony), against Nathan Myers when on or about July 17, the defendant caused physical injury to Veronica Danielle Thurman by striking her with his fists on her face, back and arms and choking her as she was sitting on the couch with an infant and while she was holding a minor child, caused the child to hit his head on a cabinet; knowingly entered or remained unlawfully in the dwelling; and wantonly abused another person, placing a minor child under the age of 12 in threat of serious physical injury.

— The alleged offenses of public intoxication (class B misdemeanor); possession of a controlled substance first degree (meth–class D felony); possession of drug paraphernalia (class A misdemeanor); and trafficking in a controlled substance first degree (meth–class D felony), against Stephanie A. Myers, when on or about July 20, the defendant was under the influence of a controlled substance, or other intoxicating substance; possessed methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia and sold, transferred…with the intent to distribute meth.

— The alleged offenses of failure to use seat belt (misdemeanor); operating a motor vehicle under the influence (class B misdemeanor); possession of a controlled substance (meth-class D felony); and possession of drug paraphernalia, against Ronald D. Daniel, when on or about July 6, defendant failed to use his seat belt while operating a motor vehicle, operated a motor vehicle with alcohol concentration at or about 0.08, possessed methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

— The alleged offenses of criminal mischief first degree and theft by unlawful taking or disposition (class D felonies), against Misty Duvall, when on or about March 27, defendant intentionally or wantonly defaced, destroyed or damaged a building and/or personal property belonging to Rick Wallace, property having a value of more than $1,000 and took or exercised control over a hot water heater, refrigerator and kitchen stove, said items having a value of more than $500.

(Editor’s Note: An indictment is a statement of probable cause to believe an offense has been committed and further court proceedings are warranted. Those individuals named in an indictment are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.)